The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has announced that it will not accept fresh applications for recruitment in 2027. Instead, the government will draw from the existing pool of candidates who have already passed the process but were not called for training. This decision was made by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, following a directive from President Mahama.
The GNFS recruitment process is handled through the Centralised Services E-Recruitment Portal (C-SERP), which also manages applications for the Police, Immigration, and Prisons services. In the 2025/2026 cycle, approximately 390,000 applicants applied across the four agencies, with over 100,000 passing the aptitude test and about 105,000 qualifying for medical examinations. However, only around 5,000 training places were available at the time.
To be eligible for GNFS recruitment, applicants must meet specific criteria, including being a Ghanaian citizen by birth, having no criminal record, and being of good character. They must also meet the height requirement of 1.73m (5'8") for males and 1.63m (5'4") for females, and be physically and medically fit by Fire Service standards. Educational requirements include five credits at BECE (not less than Grade 6), and five passes at WASSCE/SSSCE up to Grade C6, including English and Mathematics.
The application process involves purchasing a voucher through approved channels, registering on the C-SERP portal, and submitting an application. Shortlisted candidates proceed to an online, AI-proctored aptitude test, which has a pass mark of 65%. The test is grouped by qualification category, and applicants must keep their faces aligned within the proctoring frame throughout the test.
The GNFS has warned that the test cannot be closed, stopped, or saved once started, and any attempt to have another person take the test will be detected and sanctioned. For the 2025/2026 cycle, NVTI and other certificate holders took the test from 10-13 February 2026, HND, bachelor's and master's degree holders from 14-17 February, and WASSCE holders from 18-22 February.
Despite increasing the intake to 10,000, the gap between demand and capacity remains vast. During the medical stage, more than 4,000 applicants failed the drug test, over 2,000 were disqualified on mental health grounds, and about 1,300 were disqualified after testing positive for HIV. The Minister also revealed that several recruits had been sent home from training schools after WAEC verification found their WASSCE results were doctored.
The GNFS and the Ministry of the Interior have warned prospective applicants that certificates are checked, and fraud will be detected. For anyone hoping to join GNFS, the practical reality is a waiting period of at least a year. The next window for fresh applications will depend on when the existing pool of qualified candidates is exhausted and financial clearance is secured.
Key points
- The Ghana National Fire Service recruitment portal will not open for fresh applications in 2027.
- The existing pool of qualified candidates will be prioritized for recruitment in 2027.
- The GNFS has increased its intake to 10,000, but the gap between demand and capacity remains vast.
