The minority’s demand for the refund of GHS113 paid by disqualified applicants in the security service recruitment was emphatically rejected by the majority.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga stressed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government had previously conducted similar recruitment processes without refunding disqualified applicants.
He recalled that during President Akufo-Addo’s tenure, an amount of approximately GHS35 million was set aside, and despite his own calls for refunds, the NPP never reimbursed any applicants.
“I have heard my friends from the minority side mentioning at press conferences that the Interior Minister should refund; they did the same thing. They advertised, people paid, but they never refunded GHS1 to anyone.
“I have proceedings records here when Ambrose Dery was called before this house and asked the same question about refunds to young people. He did not refund; he reserved the money. You cannot all of a sudden change your position overnight and say that money should be refunded,” he stated.
Mr. Ayariga rather urged his colleagues to shift their focus towards discussing solutions for the country’s economic issues and creating jobs for young people.
“You cannot be discussing refunds now; let discussion centre on how we can fix the economy. The young man is looking for a job; he wants the government to create employment opportunities for him. That is what we must be doing, creating jobs. GHC 200, if you refund it to him, what is he going to do with it?” He questioned.
Source: Vanessa Elizabeth Nkum
