The Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has issued a cautionary message to prospective applicants ahead of the Ghana Armed Forces’ upcoming officer corps enlistment, urging them to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to recruitment scams.

In a Facebook post published on June 28, Dr Boamah advised the public to steer clear of fraudulent individuals promising enlistment slots in exchange for money. He stressed that the Armed Forces would not tolerate any corrupt practices during the recruitment process.

“As the Ghana Armed Forces prepares for the upcoming officer corps ENLISTMENT, I want to remind you to: 1. Beware of scams and avoid paying bribes. 2. Carefully review the eligibility criteria before applying,” the Defence Minister wrote.

He further clarified that recruitment for non-officer ranks—regular soldiers—had not yet commenced, adding that official announcements would be made at the appropriate time. “Regarding soldier (non-officer) RECRUITMENT, rest assured that updates will be shared in due course. Stay informed and vigilant!” he stated.

The Minister’s remarks followed closely on the heels of a press release issued by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), warning the public about fraudulent recruitment schemes being perpetrated by individuals posing as senior military officers.

In the statement, the Department of Public Relations at Burma Camp disclosed that certain fraudsters were exploiting the public by claiming to offer assistance with military enlistment in return for payment. The GAF stressed that no recruitment was currently underway for soldier ranks, although the officer enlistment process—which began last year—was nearing its conclusion.

“The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to categorically state that there are no recruitment exercises ongoing for soldiers. However, enlistment for potential officer cadets which began last year is at its final stages,” the statement read.

It further noted that “any individual or group claiming to facilitate recruitment into the Armed Forces in exchange for money is engaging in criminal activity.”

The Armed Forces called on victims or potential victims of such scams to report the incidents to the nearest police station. The military said it was collaborating with law enforcement agencies to track down and prosecute those involved in the illegal schemes.

To ensure transparency and protect applicants, the GAF reminded the public that all future recruitment notices would be published through official Armed Forces channels, including the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times newspapers.