10,000 national service personnel to begin military training on August 31

The first batch of 10,000 national service personnel selected for the pilot phase of the new military orientation programme will begin training on August 31, 2025.

The six-week basic military training, introduced in June 2025 by the National Service Authority (NSA), is voluntary. It forms part of efforts to promote discipline, civic responsibility, and patriotism among young graduates.

The programme was first announced in June 2025.

Addressing a press briefing dubbed "Government Accountability Series" on Monday [Aug 4], the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo said the initiative is being implemented in line with the National Service Act, 2024 (Act 1119), and falls within the policy direction of the new national service strategy.

He said the NSA was working with the Ghana Armed Forces to deliver the training.

“This policy is not about the militarisation of service personnel,” Mr Opare Addo said. “It is about leadership, resilience, and civic responsibility.”

The training will begin with two cohorts of 10,000 personnel. The programme is expected to expand to reach 100,000 in subsequent years.

The NSA has stated that participation in the programme will not affect service placements.

Those selected for the pilot will complete their training before being assigned to their user agencies. Final postings will take place after the training is completed.

Registration for the optional training was included in the online enrolment process, which opened on June 17 and closed on July 1, 2025.