NSA to pilot military training for national service personnel in 2025/2026 cycle

The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced a major new initiative for the 2025/2026 national service cycle in a six-week Basic Military Training (BMT) programme aimed at promoting national cohesion, discipline, and civic responsibility among graduates.

Slated to begin on August 3, 2025, the pilot phase will involve at least 10,000 service personnel and will be conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and other key agencies.

According to the NSA, the programme will equip participants with practical skills in resilience, teamwork, and national security awareness.

Participation in the pilot is voluntary, with interested graduates able to opt in during the online registration process.

Final service postings will be assigned only after the completion of the training, but the NSA has assured that no participant will lose their placement due to their involvement in the programme.

“This training is designed not only to prepare the youth for emergencies and national defence but also to empower them to tackle pressing societal challenges such as illegal mining, poor sanitation, and environmental degradation,” said Acting Director-General Felix Gyamfi.

While this year’s service cohort has seen a drop in registered PIN codes from 176,000 last year to 132,000, NSA attributes the decline to improved data validation and the elimination of inflated institutional submissions.

Additionally, over 3,500 graduates from 22 unaccredited tertiary institutions have been disqualified from participating until their schools resolve accreditation issues with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The NSA says it will thoroughly assess the pilot’s outcomes before considering a nationwide rollout, with plans already in place to make BMT mandatory for all service personnel starting in 2026.

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