A Facebook post claimed that the Ghana Armed Forces are undertaking an electronic recruitment exercise.
The Director of Public Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces says the post and the Facebook page are both fake. GAF does not advertise recruitment on social media. They utilize the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times newspapers.
Full Text
A November 6th Facebook post claims electronic recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces is on the way.
Amongst other things, the post says people who had previously applied but were not shortlisted can reapply. Additionally, applicants who were shortlisted but failed to proceed beyond the screening and medical examination stages are also eligible to apply. The post included a phone number- purported to be the official number of the GAF.
#RedFlags
We noticed a few things were off prior to verification. First, was the medium used to advertise the exercise – a Facebook page. Although the page claims to belong to the GAF, nothing links it to the GAF aside from its name. Set up on April 5, 2018, with 27,111 followers, most of its posts are announcements of recruitment and enlistment into the GAF; suggesting it was primarily created for that purpose.
Clearly not the first instance…
Similarly, the GAF has on a number of occasions informed the public it does not advertise recruitment and enlistment on social media platforms. Instead, GAF utilizes the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times, Colonel Aggrey Quarshie- Director of Public Relations- noted via Whatsapp interview with DUBAWA.
“We don’t advertise recruitment on social media,” he said. He added that both the post and Facebook page are fake.
Our Unique Experience
When DUBAWA called the number advertised, an ‘officer’ who claimed to be Col. Aggrey Quarshie answered. He requested us to forward our particulars- Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and a West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)- to the same number after which we will be told what to do. He further requested payment- GHc100- for registration forms and Ghc50 for a voucher (scratch card) to access the forms. This again is contrary to the official GAF application procedure. The said procedure still requires a purchase of a scratch card; this though, is for a PIN which leads to a more thorough process. And it certainly does not require you to forward your “particulars”.
