Ghana to Begin Military Training for National Service Personnel on August 31

The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the rollout of a six-week Basic Military Orientation Programme for national service personnel, set to begin on August 31, 2025. The initiative, launched in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), will start with an initial cohort of 10,000 graduates, with plans to scale up in subsequent years.

The programme is part of the National Service Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1119) and was directed by President John Dramani Mahama. According to George Opare Addo, Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, the training is not about militarisation but aims to instil:

Leadership

Resilience

Civic responsibility

Patriotism

Physical readiness

“This is about nurturing disciplined, service-minded citizens,” the Minister stated during the ministry’s accountability briefing.

For the 2025/2026 service year, approximately 130,000 graduates from accredited tertiary institutions will be deployed to public and private agencies. However, registration has temporarily paused due to a system shutdown of the Centralised Service Management Platform, following a directive from the Presidency for a forensic audit.

The audit was prompted by revelations of ghost names and financial irregularities undermining the integrity of the service scheme. The Ghana Audit Service, National Security, and the Attorney-General’s Office are currently investigating the matter. A new, more secure platform is expected to be deployed soon.

Prospective personnel who wish to participate in the military training were required to opt in during the online registration window, which ran from June 17 to July 1, 2025. The NSA has confirmed that selected applicants will be notified ahead of the August 31 start date.

This marks a bold shift in Ghana’s approach to national service — blending civic duty with structured discipline. As the first cohort prepares to report, the nation watches closely to see whether this model can redefine youth engagement and public service.