About 1,300 applicants who took part in Ghana’s recent security recruitment exercise tested positive for HIV during the mandatory medical screening, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has disclosed. Speaking before Parliament’s Assurances Committee on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, he explained that the government chose not to send applicants their medical results directly without first providing appropriate counselling and guidance.
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Why the Government Did Not Release Medical Results Immediately
Appearing before Parliament’s Assurances Committee, Muntaka said the decision was taken to protect applicants’ privacy and ensure those diagnosed with serious medical conditions received proper orientation before learning their results.
According to the minister, informing someone of an HIV diagnosis through a simple notification would not have been appropriate.
“In the recent recruitment, we had, I think, about 1,300 or so that were on HIV. And then they said, can you imagine sending somebody a result without telling the person that you have HIV? I mean, that’s not the procedure. The person has to go through some orientation.”
Instead, applicants who were disqualified during the recruitment process were given contact details they could use to seek clarification about their status and, where necessary, receive their medical results through the appropriate channels.
Muntaka said the approach was intended to balance confidentiality with the need to ensure affected applicants could access medical information and professional support.
Other Health Conditions Identified During the Screening
The Interior Minister said the medical examination also uncovered several other conditions that could affect applicants’ eligibility for the security services.
These included hepatitis B, heart-related conditions, mental health conditions, previous major surgeries and drug-related issues.
Muntaka noted that some of the conditions identified during the screening are treatable, making it important for affected individuals to become aware of their health status and seek appropriate medical care.
“Some of the things that we realised are treatable. People need to know and then also get treatment so that subsequent recruitment they could join.”
He encouraged unsuccessful applicants to request their medical results, saying some people may be living with medical conditions without knowing it.
“It may be something minor, it may be something major. Whichever it is, if you get to know, it will be of great interest to you.”
His remarks underscore the broader purpose of the medical screening process, which is not only to determine applicants’ fitness for service but also to identify health conditions that may require treatment or further medical attention.
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