Ministry of Interior announces new dates for Immigration, Police and Prisons aptitude test after technical issues prevented some applicants from completing the online assessment on the Centralised Services E-Recruitment Portal for the 2025/2026 security services intake.
In a public notice, the Ministry said the problem largely affected Category C applicants, mainly WASSCE holders, who experienced difficulties submitting and finalising their aptitude tests online. The Ministry acknowledged the disruption and said the revised schedule is meant to protect fairness in the recruitment process, especially for candidates who were disadvantaged by system bottlenecks.
Why the dates have changed
The aptitude test is part of the online screening stage used across the services under the Ministry of the Interior. It helps to standardise early selection before applicants move to the next steps, which may include documentation checks, physical screening, background vetting and other service-specific requirements.
According to the Ministry, the portal challenges were significant enough to require a fresh window for affected candidates. Instead of reopening everything for everyone at once, the Ministry opted for a staggered approach, split by service and date. The goal is to reduce traffic on the portal and make it easier for candidates to log in, complete the assessment and submit successfully.
This update is important because Ghana is currently mid-way through the 2025/26 recruitment exercise. With today being Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the revised schedule means some service windows have already started, while others are still ahead.
New mop-up timetable by service
The Ministry’s new window runs from Saturday, 21 February 2026 to Friday, 28 February 2026, structured by agency as follows.
Ghana Immigration Service (GIS): Saturday, 21 February to Monday, 23 February 2026
This phase covers candidates who applied to GIS and were unable to complete their test due to the earlier technical issues.
Ghana Police Service: Tuesday, 24 February to Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Police applicants affected by the disruption are expected to complete their assessments during this period.
Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and Ghana Prisons Service: Thursday, 26 February to Friday, 28 February 2026
The final batch in the February mop-up covers Fire and Prisons applicants.
General mop-up for all categories
Beyond the service-based schedule, the Ministry also announced a broader mop-up session covering all categories (A to C). This will take place from Sunday, 1 March to Monday, 2 March 2026. The idea here is to catch remaining candidates across all qualification categories who may still have unresolved portal issues or missed their service-based window for valid reasons.
The Ministry added that results for the aptitude test are expected to be published on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
How applicants will be notified
To reduce confusion and curb misinformation, the Ministry said affected applicants will receive SMS notifications with clear instructions. Candidates are expected to log back into the portal within their allocated window and complete the assessment as directed.
This is also a reminder to applicants to be cautious about unofficial “help” offers. During recruitment seasons, scammers often target applicants with claims that they can “fix” portal issues or influence results. The Ministry’s process is designed to be direct, digital and traceable, so candidates should rely on official messages and the portal instructions.
Why most applicants will not get access during the extension
One key detail in the Ministry’s notice is that the extension is not meant for everyone. The Ministry stated that about 82 per cent of applicants have already completed the test successfully and will not be allowed back onto the portal during the extended period. The reason given is to prevent renewed congestion and protect the stability of the system while the mop-up exercise is running.
For applicants who already completed their test without issues, this also means there is no need to attempt repeat logins during the mop-up. The system is being prioritised for those who could not complete the process earlier.
What this means for applicants
For those affected, the revised schedule gives a clear second chance to complete the test without losing out due to technical limitations. It also brings structure to what could have become a messy situation, since staggered dates help the portal handle traffic more smoothly than a single nationwide reopening.
For the wider public, the update signals that the Ministry is monitoring the recruitment process closely and is willing to adjust timelines to protect fairness. At the same time, the clear restriction on access for those who have already completed the test shows an effort to keep the system stable and avoid another wave of disruptions.
Applicants are expected to follow the dates strictly, watch out for the SMS alerts, and complete the test within the window assigned to their service or during the general mop-up period if necessary.
