The Politics of Hypocrisy: When the NPP Plays Saint Over Security Recruitment

In recent days, some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have taken to public platforms to accuse the government of scamming applicants in the ongoing security services recruitment process. Their loud complaints, particularly about the GH₵220 application fee and alleged lack of transparency, would almost be convincing—if Ghanaians did not have such a fresh memory of what transpired under their own administration.

For a party whose tenure was widely associated with allegations of selling recruitment slots “like peanuts,” this sudden posture of moral purity is not only surprising; it is deeply hypocritical.

For years, thousands of unemployed young people across Ghana queued for days under the scorching sun during recruitment exercises into the military, police, immigration, and fire services. Many endured sleepless nights and exhausting screening processes, only to be eliminated before they even had a fair chance. Meanwhile, it was widely whispered—and often openly alleged—that others never needed to queue at all. Some remained comfortably at home yet miraculously found their names on the final recruitment lists.

These stories did not emerge from imagination. They were the lived experiences of countless young Ghanaians during the administration of the NPP. Allegations of recruitment slots being traded through political connections and financial inducements became so widespread that they almost became normalised within the system.

It is therefore astonishing to hear voices from the NPP speaking about fairness, transparency, and exploitation of applicants. The question must be asked: where was this righteous indignation when the very same recruitment exercises were being manipulated under their watch?

Ghanaians are not forgetful. The youth who today express anger and frustration did not suddenly develop these grievances overnight. For eight years, many watched as their colleagues with known political connections secured positions in the security services while they themselves remained excluded. Some of these young people had also invested their time, energy, and loyalty in political activism, hoping that when their party eventually came to power, their sacrifices would not be forgotten. It is within this context that the current tensions must be understood.

The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) must also recognise a political reality that cannot simply be wished away in the name of abstract ideals. While it is true that governments are elected by the broader Ghanaian electorate, political parties are sustained by their core supporters—the individuals who campaign, organise, and defend the party during its most difficult years in opposition.

These loyal supporters endured eight years of political frustration under the previous government. Many of them watched as opportunities in public recruitment processes appeared to favour their political opponents. It is therefore not unreasonable that they expect recognition and consideration when their party assumes power.

Politics, after all, is not the same as religion. Even in religious institutions, human preferences and loyalties often influence outcomes. In the arena of politics, where loyalty and sacrifice are currency, expectations of reciprocity are inevitable.

This is not to justify corruption or institutional manipulation. Rather, it is to acknowledge the practical realities of political systems across the world. The NPP itself perfected this approach during its time in office. It cannot now pretend to occupy the moral high ground when the consequences of those practices continue to shape expectations within the political landscape.

If the NPP truly desires a fair and transparent recruitment system for Ghana’s security services, then it must begin by acknowledging its own role in entrenching the very practices it now condemns. Genuine reform requires humility and honesty—not political theatre. Until that happens, the party’s current outrage will continue to ring hollow in the ears of many young Ghanaians.

The debate over security recruitment must therefore move beyond partisan posturing. Ghana needs a system that restores public confidence and protects the dignity of the thousands of young citizens who seek to serve their country.

But one thing is certain: moral lectures from those who helped create the problem will convince very few people and most especially, their members but not all Ghanaians.

The Trial News