National Service personnel To Begins Military Training in Agust

 

At least 10,000 National Service troops will participate in a military training program piloted by the National Service Authority (NSA) commencing August 3, 2025, with intentions to make it obligatory for all troops starting the following year.

In an interview with JoyNews on #GhanaConnect, Felix Gyamfi, the Authority's acting Director-General, said that the training would foster discipline, patriotism, and a preparedness to assist national development objectives.


According to him, the program is to equip youth to tackle social issues such as illicit mining, inadequate sanitation, and environmental degradation, in addition to preparing them for emergencies and disaster response.

"In order to restore our lands from environmental degradation, we must fight the cancer of illegal mining (galamsey)." Malaria, inadequate sanitation, and other public health emergencies must also be addressed.

"Education by itself cannot address these issues. Both mental and physical discipline are necessary for them. Young people will start to arrive early, on time, and most importantly, prepared, with this kind of instruction, Mr. Gyamfi said.

He said that soldiers would be sent to different military barracks around the nation for the training, which will be carried out in cooperation with the Ghana Armed Forces and last at least six weeks.

The NSA anticipates strong demand and will choose participants from a variety of disciplines, including police, agriculture, and health, even though participation in this year's trial will be based on voluntary interest.

According to Mr. Gyamfi, the training will be required of the national service cohort the following year and may even be included into the service calendar.

In a bold and transformative move, the management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has announced plans to introduce military training as part of its program for service personnel across the country. This initiative, which is expected to roll out in phases beginning with selected pilot institutions, seeks to instill discipline, patriotism, resilience, and a stronger sense of civic responsibility among Ghanaian youth.

The announcement has generated widespread interest and discussion, both in policy circles and among the general public, as stakeholders weigh the potential impact of this policy shift on national development and youth empowerment.

Rationale Behind the Policy

According to the Executive Director of the NSS, the decision to introduce military-style training stems from the growing need to prepare young Ghanaians to be more disciplined, focused, and committed to nation-building.

“We live in times where discipline, unity, and patriotism are more important than ever,” he said. “The military training will not be about turning national service personnel into soldiers, but about giving them a taste of leadership, teamwork, and survival skills that are relevant to both personal development and national progress.”

The training will involve physical fitness exercises, basic drills, leadership development, and lectures on civic duties and national security. The program will be organized in partnership with the Ghana Armed Forces and is expected to last for a few weeks at the beginning of the service year.

Pilot Program and Structure

To ensure a smooth implementation, the NSS has planned to begin the initiative with a pilot program targeting approximately 5,000 national service personnel in selected regions. These personnel will undergo a two-week intensive training session at designated military installations.

Participants will be taken through structured modules including:

• Physical endurance and fitness routines

• Leadership and ethics

• Team-building and conflict resolution

• Fire safety and basic first aid

• National security awareness

• Emergency response preparedness

Officials say the training is not intended to militarize youth but rather to inculcate values of discipline and national consciousness. “It is not war training,” a representative of the Ghana Armed Forces assured. “It is character-building. We aim to support the NSS in grooming confident, responsible young citizens.”

Public Reactions: Mixed Views

As expected, the decision has sparked mixed reactions among Ghanaians, particularly among final-year university students who are preparing to undertake national service in the coming year.

Some students have welcomed the idea with excitement, seeing it as an opportunity to grow mentally and physically. Kwame Asare, a political science student at the University of Cape Coast, believes the program will prepare young people for the real world.

“Our generation has become too soft,” he said. “We need to learn self-discipline and time management. I think military training can help us build resilience and a better work ethic.”

Others, however, have expressed concerns about the physical demands of the training and the potential for abuse or excessive regimentation. Some student unions and civil society groups have called for clarity on the curriculum and safeguards to protect participants’ rights.

“I’m not against the idea entirely,” said Afua Mensima, a final-year student at the University of Ghana. “But we need assurance that it won’t become a platform for hazing or unnecessary punishments. It should be educative and empowering, not intimidating.”

In response, the NSS has promised to establish clear guidelines and to monitor the program closely in collaboration with the Armed Forces to ensure that it remains safe, inclusive, and beneficial.

Government’s Vision for Youth Empowerment

The military training initiative is part of a broader government agenda to reform and modernize national service. Authorities say they want to shift public perception of NSS from being a mere transitional phase to a critical period of nation-building and character development.

Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, lauded the initiative as timely and strategic.

“The world is changing, and Ghana must position its youth to be leaders in the face of complex national and global challenges. This training will equip them with soft skills that are not always taught in the classroom but are essential for leadership and innovation.”

Beyond military training, the government is also looking at other reforms to improve the relevance of NSS postings, provide more entrepreneurship opportunities, and strengthen post-service employment pathways.

Role of the Ghana Armed Forces

The Ghana Armed Forces, known for their discipline, efficiency, and professionalism, will play a central role in delivering the training. Officers and trainers will be deployed to selected training sites, where they will work alongside NSS officials and partner institutions.

Colonel Agyemang (Retired), who has been involved in youth development initiatives in the past, expressed confidence in the military’s ability to positively influence Ghana’s youth.

“Our soldiers are trained not only for defense but for leadership, teamwork, and responsibility,” he said. “These are values we are happy to pass on to the next generation.”

He added that similar youth development programs have been successfully implemented in other countries such as Singapore and Israel, where a degree of national service and military training has produced highly motivated, civic-minded young citizens.

Looking Ahead

As the NSS prepares to roll out this new program, it will need to address several key challenges:

• Logistics and accommodation for trainees

• Medical readiness and safety protocols

• Ensuring gender-sensitive training environments

• Monitoring and evaluation systems

• Public communication and engagement

Nevertheless, officials remain optimistic. They believe that, once refined and successfully implemented, the military training component will become a defining feature of national service in Ghana.

In the words of the NSS Director, “This is not just about uniforms and salutes. It is about preparing Ghanaian youth for the responsibilities of adulthood and citizenship. It is about creating a new breed of service personnel who are bold, reliable, and ready to contribute meaningfully to national development.”

Conclusion

As Ghana looks to the future, the introduction of military training into the NSS program marks a significant shift in how the country views youth development. Whether greeted with enthusiasm or hesitation, the program’s success will ultimately depend on how well it is planned, executed, and integrated into the broader vision of national transformation.

With adequate support, transparency, and a focus on character-building, this initiative could become a model for youth empowerment in Africa—blending the vigor of military discipline with the vision of civic duty.

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