For thousands of young Ghanaians, a career in the Ghana Police Service represents stability, purpose and a path into public service. But the route into the Service is not always open. The 2025/2026 recruitment cycle attracted roughly 390,000 applicants for a few thousand places, and the government has now confirmed that no fresh applications will be accepted in 2027. The portal will remain closed while authorities work through a backlog of candidates who already passed the process but were never called for training.
For anyone hoping to join, understanding the requirements and the application system remains essential—even if the next window is months away.
Quick Facts
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Portal: Applications are submitted exclusively through the Centralised Services E-Recruitment Portal (C-SERP) at cserpgh.com .
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Voucher: Applicants must purchase a recruitment voucher via USSD (*713*03#) or at any GCB Bank branch before registering .
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2025/2026 cycle: The portal opened on 17 November 2025 and closed on 19 December 2025 .
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Scale of demand: About 390,000 people applied to the four security services; over 100,000 passed the aptitude test .
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2027 freeze: No fresh applications will be accepted in 2027. The government will draw from the existing pool of qualified candidates awaiting training.
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Height requirement: Males must be at least 5 feet 8 inches (173cm); females at least 5 feet 4 inches (163cm) .
The Requirements: Who Can Apply
The Ghana Police Service sets both general and category-specific requirements. According to the C-SERP portal, all applicants must satisfy the following :
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Be a Ghanaian by birth
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Be of good character
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Have no criminal record
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Not have been dismissed from any public service or other employment
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Be within the age limit specified for the category applied for (as of 31 December of the recruitment year)
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Meet the height requirement: 5 feet 8 inches (173cm) for males and 5 feet 4 inches (163cm) for females
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Be physically and medically fit by Police Service standards
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Have five passes in BECE, including English and Mathematics
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Be ready to undergo basic Police training and other forms of training
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Have completed National Service (for graduate applicants)
Specific categories may have additional educational requirements, such as WASSCE/SSSCE certificates. Applicants should always confirm the exact criteria on the official portal before applying.
The Application Process: From Voucher to Submission
The C-SERP system was designed to eliminate middlemen and make recruitment paperless and merit-based. The process follows a strict sequence.
Step 1: Purchase the Voucher
Before accessing the application form, you must buy a recruitment voucher. There are two official channels :
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USSD: Dial *713*03# on any mobile network and follow the prompts.
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GCB Bank: Visit any branch nationwide and purchase the voucher in person.
When buying, specify that you are applying to the Ghana Police Service. Keep the serial number and PIN safe—they are required for every subsequent step.
Step 2: Register on C-SERP
Go to cserpgh.com and click “Apply Now” or “Register.” Enter your voucher serial number and PIN to create an account. You will then provide personal details, including your full name, date of birth, contact information and Ghana Card number.
Step 3: Enter Educational Details and Upload Documents
Enter your educational qualifications, school details and any professional credentials. Upload scanned copies of the required documents, which typically include :
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Senior High School certificate or equivalent
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Passport-sized photographs in the specified format
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Any other certificates stated for the recruitment cycle
Step 4: Submit and Save Your Summary Report
Review your application carefully before submitting. Once submitted, print or save your application summary report. This document is required at the screening stage .
What Happens After Application: Screening and Selection
Submission is not the end of the process. Shortlisted candidates proceed through several stages.
Documentation and body inspection. For the 2025/2026 cycle, this ran from 12 January to 4 February 2026. Applicants reported to assigned centres with original documents and photocopies, including the application summary report, biometric birth certificate, Ghana Card, SHS certificate, and two passport-sized photographs . Morning sessions began at 7 a.m.; afternoon sessions at 12 p.m. Latecomers risked disqualification .
Aptitude test. Candidates who passed documentation sat a written assessment. The pass mark for the 2025/2026 cycle was 65 per cent .
Medical examination. Successful candidates underwent medical screening. 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.
Training. Only a fraction of those who passed every stage were called for training. The original intake of 5,000 was later doubled to 10,000 following a presidential directive, but demand still far outstripped capacity.
The 2027 Freeze: What It Means for Aspiring Recruits
In October 2026, Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak announced that the recruitment portal would not open for fresh applications in 2027. The decision followed a directive from President John Dramani Mahama to prioritise candidates who had already completed the process but were not called for training due to limited space.
“Next year, there will be no new applicants. We are not going to open the portal based on the President’s instructions,” the Minister told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
The government intends to work through the existing backlog before accepting new applications. The timing and size of the next intake will depend on financial clearance and the availability of training facilities. The Minister noted that the Police Service currently has about 50,000 personnel against an estimated requirement of 70,000 to 80,000, but even with clearance for 20,000 or 30,000 recruits, training schools could not accommodate them all at once.
For prospective applicants who missed the 2025/2026 cycle, this means a waiting period of at least a year, with no confirmed date for when the portal might reopen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official portal for Ghana Police recruitment?
The Centralised Services E-Recruitment Portal (C-SERP) at cserpgh.com .
How much does the recruitment voucher cost?
The search results do not specify the exact price. Vouchers are purchased via USSD *713*03# or at GCB Bank branches.
What are the height requirements for the Ghana Police Service?
Males must be at least 5 feet 8 inches (173cm). Females must be at least 5 feet 4 inches (163cm) .
Do I need a Ghana Card to apply?
Yes. A valid Ghana Card is required for identity verification during application and screening.
Can I apply for the Ghana Police Service in 2027?
No. The government has announced that no fresh applications will be accepted in 2027. The portal will remain closed while authorities process candidates from the 2025/2026 pool who passed but were not trained.
What happens if I applied in 2025/2026 and passed but was not called for training?
Your records are being retained. The government intends to draw from this pool for future intakes, subject to financial clearance and training capacity.
Were there any disqualifications during the 2025/2026 medical stage?
Yes. 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.
What documents do I need for screening?
Original and photocopies of: application summary report, biometric birth certificate, Ghana Card, SHS certificate, two passport-sized photographs, and any other educational certificates.
What to Remember
Ghana Police recruitment is a structured, multi-stage process conducted entirely through the C-SERP portal. The requirements are clear: Ghanaian citizenship, good character, physical and medical fitness, BECE passes including English and Mathematics, and—for graduates—completed National Service.
But the window is not always open. The 2025/2026 cycle attracted hundreds of thousands of applicants for a few thousand places. The government has now frozen fresh applications for 2027 to clear the backlog of qualified candidates who are still waiting for training.
For anyone hoping to join, the practical advice is to prepare now: ensure your documents are in order, your Ghana Card details are consistent, and your educational certificates are verifiable. When the portal does reopen—likely no earlier than 2028, subject to financial clearance—the process will be the same. Merit, not middlemen, determines who gets through.
Source: The Accra Daily Mail
Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of The Accra Daily Mail, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
