By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
In a major policy shift aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency, the Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr. Ernest Brogya Genfi, has announced that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will provide a second chance to applicants of the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise who were disqualified during the medical screening phase.
Speaking on April 7, 2026, the Deputy Minister urged all affected candidates to return to the specific medical centres where they were initially assessed to verify the exact reasons for their disqualification.
A key highlight of the announcement is the window of opportunity for applicants with manageable medical issues. Candidates who were disqualified due to curable or treatable conditions are encouraged to seek the necessary medical care immediately.
According to the Deputy Minister, applicants who successfully treat their conditions will be eligible for a medical review at a later date to reassess their fitness for enlistment.
To ensure that financial constraints do not hinder qualified youth, Mr. Genfi emphasised that these follow-up medical reviews will be conducted entirely free of charge.
This directive follows several months of restructuring within the GAF recruitment process, which was previously marred by a tragic stampede at El-Wak Stadium in November 2025.
The Defence Ministry’s decision to provide detailed feedback to failed applicants is part of a broader effort to address concerns about the lack of communication during selection.
“Understanding the specific reasons for failure is crucial,” the Minister stated in a social media post, stressing that the government is committed to building a military force based on professionalism and equal opportunity.
The announcement comes shortly after the GAF issued appointment letters to the first batch of 2025/2026 recruits on March 18, 2026.
While the initial groups have already begun reporting to training centres, this new reassessment policy offers a lifeline to thousands of other young Ghanaians whose dreams of serving were put on hold due to health-related setbacks.
Applicants are advised to rely only on official information provided by the Ghana Armed Forces website or verified state-owned media, and to remain vigilant against fraudulent recruitment scams.
