Omanghana
Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed plans to introduce mandatory drug testing for individuals seeking employment in the country’s public sector.
Mr. Muntaka, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asawase, said the Ministry of the Interior was preparing an Information Paper for submission to Cabinet as part of efforts to prevent people with active substance-use problems from entering state institutions.
“Very soon, the Ministry of the Interior will be taking an Information Paper to Cabinet, and one of the things that we are going to do is to ensure that nobody gets into public service until we do a drug test on you,” he stated.
The minister announced the proposal during the inauguration of a newly constructed six-unit classroom block at Sakafiya Islamic Senior High School.
Security Recruitment Findings Prompt Proposal
The proposed policy follows findings from the recent centralized recruitment exercise for Ghana’s security services.
More than 100,000 applicants reportedly underwent medical examinations during the exercise. In addition to routine physical and laboratory assessments, authorities introduced drug testing and mental-health evaluations.
Mr. Muntaka disclosed that more than 4,000 applicants tested positive for one or more drugs, while approximately 2,000 others were separately disqualified following mental-health assessments.
Overall, more than 6,000 applicants were excluded from the recruitment process on those two grounds.
The minister described the figures as alarming, arguing that many of the affected candidates could have entered the security or civil services if the additional assessments had not been introduced.
“It is shocking for us, this year’s recruitment exercise. When we decided to test for drugs, over 6,000 people were disqualified because they tested positive for one drug or the other,” he said.
The combined figure, however, also included applicants disqualified following mental-health evaluations.
Government Seeks to Protect Public Institutions
Mr. Muntaka said the proposed testing requirement was intended to protect institutional integrity, improve workplace safety and prevent the state from knowingly recruiting people experiencing active drug-related problems.
He explained that public institutions, particularly the security services, invest considerable resources in training personnel and cannot ignore substance use during recruitment.
The minister also acknowledged that some serving security officers already face drug-related challenges. He said steps were being taken to provide the affected personnel with assistance.
“Some of the officers that we have in the service, some already are into drugs. And we are taking steps to help them to get out of it,” he said.
“We are not going to be allowing new people to be trained when we know you are already on drugs.”
The proposal remains subject to Cabinet consideration and has not yet become a binding requirement for all public-sector recruitment.
Possible Extension to Private Employment
Mr. Muntaka previously proposed an executive directive making drug testing a pre-employment requirement in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking in Parliament in June 2026, he argued that a broader policy could deter substance abuse among young people while promoting safer workplaces.
Any extension to private-sector employment would require a clearly defined legal and regulatory framework addressing testing procedures, confidentiality, confirmatory testing and the rights of applicants.
Minister Raises Alarm Over Drugs in Schools
The Interior Minister also expressed concern about the increasing availability of harmful substances in secondary schools.
He said some students were secretly selling tramadol and other drugs to their colleagues, making greater vigilance necessary on school campuses.
Mr.. Muntaka urged headteachers, teachers and school administrators to monitor students more closely and identify activities that could expose young people to substance abuse.
He also warned students against peer pressure and claims that cannabis, tramadol or other substances could improve concentration or academic performance.
“Drugs destroy you forever,” he cautioned. “What is the use of that exam if, by the time you get A-AAAA, you have destroyed yourself?”
Rehabilitation Included in Broader Strategy
Although the proposed employment policy places strong emphasis on screening and prevention, the government’s wider anti-drug strategy also includes treatment and rehabilitation.
Mr.. Muntaka has called for increased funding for the Narcotics Control Commission to strengthen intelligence gathering, forensic analysis and the interception of illegal substances.
He has also proposed establishing at least one rehabilitation center in every region to provide treatment and support for people affected by substance-use disorders.
Other proposals include tighter regulation of pharmaceutical supply chains, measures to prevent the diversion of tramadol and precursor chemicals, and expanded drug education programs in schools, workplaces and communities.
The minister has maintained that substance dependence should be treated as a public-health challenge as well as a law-enforcement issue.
The proposed mandatory testing policy will require Cabinet approval before implementation details, legal safeguards and the institutions responsible for conducting the tests are formally announced.
Source: Omanghana
