More than 3,000 former National Service Personnel, including about 600 women, have applied to participate in a four-week Basic Military Training programme aimed at instilling discipline, military orientation and physical fitness among young Ghanaians.
However, only 2,000 applicants will be selected for the inaugural exercise, which is expected to commence on December 1, 2026.
Speaking to Starr news, Director-General of the National Service Authority, Ruth Dela Seddoh, said the selection process is currently at the medical screening stage, where applicants are being assessed to determine their fitness for the programme.
She explained that the applicants are young people who have recently completed their mandatory national service and voluntarily expressed interest in undergoing basic military training.
Ms Seddoh has urged the selected personnel to remain disciplined and committed throughout the exercise, assuring them of the government’s support.
“I know they are well-prepared, both physically and psychologically. I trust them, and I know they will not disappoint me or the President. I can assure them that we will also be there to support them,” she said.
She cautioned participants against treating the exercise as merely another activity or an opportunity for entertainment, stressing that it should be viewed as an important investment in their future.
“They shouldn’t see this as just another venture or an opportunity for fun. They should see it as something that is going to shape their future and have a positive impact on their lives,” she added.
According to Ms Seddoh, the four-week exercise is expected to equip participants with additional skills and give them an advantage over their counterparts who have not undergone similar training.
“I am very certain that by the time we are done with the four weeks of training, the difference between these personnel and any ordinary personnel will be very clear. That means we are positioning them at an advantage,” she said.
The training for the first cohort will run from December 1 to the end of December, while a second batch is expected to undergo the exercise from January 1 to the end of January 2027.
The programme is expected to expose participants to basic military practices, physical conditioning, discipline and the values associated with military service.
Beyond military orientation, the initiative is also expected to strengthen participants’ sense of patriotism, promote personal development and prepare them for greater responsibilities in society.
Ms Seddoh further disclosed that government is considering making the programme mandatory for all National Service Personnel in the coming years.
If implemented, the proposal could make basic military training a compulsory component of the national service experience, significantly expanding the scope of the initiative.
However, questions remain about whether the programme will serve strictly as a national orientation exercise or provide participants with a pathway into the Ghana Armed Forces.
For now, attention is on the ongoing medical screening and the selection of the first 2,000 beneficiaries ahead of the December rollout.
Story By Benjamin Sackey
