Labour Consultant Mr. Austin Gamey has defended the need for medical fitness assessments in Ghana’s security service recruitment process, arguing that such requirements must be based on the physical and operational demands of the profession.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Gamey said medical evaluations conducted during recruitment into specialised security institutions should not be interpreted as a move to deny applicants employment, but rather as a measure to ensure that personnel selected are capable of performing demanding duties.
His comments follow the disclosure by the Minister for the Interior regarding applicants who recorded reactive HIV screening results during a recent security recruitment exercise, a development that has triggered public debate over medical confidentiality, discrimination and recruitment standards.
Mr. Gamey explained that applicants were allowed to participate in the recruitment process and only underwent medical examinations after successfully completing earlier stages of selection.
“This is not simply about denying people’s employment. They were given the opportunity to apply and were selected for medical examinations. The issue is whether they are medically fit for the demanding nature of security service work,” he said.
He noted that security personnel are often required to undertake physically intensive assignments, emergency operations and disaster response activities, making medical fitness a key factor in determining suitability for the roles.
While acknowledging the protections provided under the Ghana AIDS Commission Act against discrimination against persons living with HIV, Mr. Gamey said recruitment into security institutions must also consider the unique responsibilities and operational requirements of those services.
He argued that different categories of employment require different levels of physical readiness, suggesting that individuals with certain health conditions could be considered for roles that do not involve the same level of physical demands.
Drawing from his own experience, Mr. Gamey said employers have a legitimate interest in ensuring that individuals recruited for specific duties are able to meet the requirements of their positions.
The labour expert stressed that the debate should focus on balancing workers’ rights, public health considerations and the need for security institutions to maintain effective operational capacity.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions among health experts, legal practitioners and labour stakeholders over how Ghana should address medical screening in public sector recruitment while upholding principles of confidentiality and non-discrimination.
