Ghana plans mandatory drug and mental health tests for public service

The Ghanaian government is preparing a Cabinet memorandum to make drug testing and mental health assessments mandatory for all public service recruitment. Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka announced the proposal following a recent security services recruitment drive where more than 6,000 applicants were disqualified due to positive cannabis tests.

Minister Muntaka noted that previous medical screening processes lacked these specific checks, which allowed substance abuse issues to go undetected among serving personnel. The new measures aim to address drug use and rising suicide rates within the security services. To support existing staff, the government is also requiring security agencies to establish dedicated welfare desks to assist officers facing mental health or substance-related challenges.

If approved, the mandatory drug testing policy for public service roles may eventually be extended to the private sector to serve as a deterrent. This initiative coincides with broader efforts by the Narcotics Control Commission, which conducted over 2,100 drug education programs in 2025 to combat rising drug-related trends among youth.