The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Hon Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for the scrapping of artificial intelligence-based aptitude tests used in the ongoing recruitment into Ghana’s security services.
According to him, the current system poses serious challenges for many applicants, particularly those without digital skills or reliable internet access.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Hon Afenyo-Markin urged the government to review the recruitment process and consider allowing applicants to write the aptitude test manually.
He noted that while technology and artificial intelligence are important, their sudden introduction into the recruitment process could disadvantage many young people who are otherwise qualified to serve in the security services.
“Mr Speaker, the military did something good. They created a system where people could take the aptitude test directly,” he said.
He suggested that if possible, the process should revert to a system that allows candidates to sit for the test physically rather than relying solely on online platforms.
“If it is possible, the system should be changed to enable our boys and girls who are not even educated on ICT to write it manually so that a proper system is put in place,” he stated.
Hon Afenyo stressed that his concerns were not politically motivated but were based on the difficulties many applicants have reported during the recruitment process.
“I am for AI. I am for IT. But you cannot suddenly call somebody who doesn’t know anything about IT and ask them to write an aptitude test via AI. If they don’t have the means, they fail,” he explained.
He further revealed that several Members of Parliament have received numerous complaints from constituents who struggled to complete the online tests, often due to technical issues or limited digital literacy.
According to him, many applicants are forced to visit internet cafés to complete the test, where they encounter various challenges with the system.
“People go to the café, and then they get on the computer, and they go through all manner of challenges. Mr Speaker, I would plead that the whole system be reviewed,” he added.
He also expressed concern that some desperate applicants have been approaching Members of Parliament for financial help to access internet services to complete the tests.
“Our boys, our girls, they come to ask MPs to take money to go on the internet,” he said.
Hon Afenyo-Markin concluded by urging the relevant authorities to take a second look at the recruitment system to ensure it remains fair, inclusive, and accessible to all qualified applicants nationwide.
