Gov’t to pilot military training for national service personnel

In a major policy shift aimed at instilling civic responsibility, discipline, and national consciousness among young Ghanaians, the National Service Authority (NSA) has announced the introduction of a six-week Basic Military Training (BMT) programme for selected graduates in the 2025/2026 service year.

The initiative, set to begin on August 3, 2025, will initially be implemented as a pilot involving 10,000 volunteers drawn from this year’s National Service cohort.

The NSA clarified that participation in the pilot will be strictly voluntary, with interested applicants given the option to enroll during the ongoing online registration process.

This groundbreaking programme will be carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and other security-related agencies, and is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen patriotism, community service, and emergency preparedness among Ghana’s future workforce.

Speaking to the media on #GhanaConnect, the Acting Director-General of the NSA, Felix Gyamfi, said the BMT is not designed to militarise the youth but rather to prepare them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

According to Gyamfi, the training will also prepare personnel to respond effectively to crises such as natural disasters and to tackle persistent national issues like illegal mining, sanitation, and environmental degradation.

“The goal is to create a generation of service-minded citizens who understand the value of teamwork, discipline, and responsibility to the nation,” Gyamfi said.

Once the six-week training concludes, participating graduates will proceed to their designated user agencies to complete their regular National Service in institutions such as schools, hospitals, government agencies, and private organizations.

The NSA has assured prospective personnel that their participation in the BMT will not affect their overall postings or tenure of service.

This policy development follows the NSA’s May 3 announcement that a pilot version of the military training would be introduced, with the possibility of making it mandatory for all service personnel starting from the 2026/2027 service year.

The Authority has committed to thoroughly reviewing the results of this year’s pilot before considering a full-scale implementation.

In the current cycle, the NSA has released over 132,000 PIN codes for registration, a significant drop from last year’s 176,000.

Officials attribute the reduction to the adoption of enhanced data validation processes that have eliminated inflated submissions from institutions.

Additionally, over 3,500 graduates from 22 tertiary institutions have been disqualified from this year’s service due to issues related to unaccredited academic programs, pending the resolution of their status with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The government sees this military training initiative as part of a broader effort to reimagine national service as not only a rite of passage but also a strategic tool for shaping responsible, resilient, and proactive citizens capable of contributing to both national security and sustainable development.