Ghana Armed Forces To Recruit 12,000 Personnel And Train National Service Volunteers

The Government of Ghana has unveiled a major initiative to bolster national security and expand the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), with the Defence Ministry announcing plans to recruit 12,000 new personnel over the next three and a half years. This strategic expansion is part of broader efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the military while ensuring fair and merit-based access to service.

The announcement was made by Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah during his presentation at the Government's #AccountabilitySeries, a public engagement forum designed to update citizens on state initiatives. Dr. Boamah emphasized that the recruitment drive will be guided by a transparent process that guarantees equal opportunity for all qualified applicants across the country.

Merit-Based Recruitment, Regional Balance Key to New Strategy

According to the Minister, comprehensive recruitment guidelines are currently being finalized and will be made publicly available by August 2025. These guidelines will outline strict eligibility criteria and mechanisms to ensure that successful candidates reflect a geographically balanced representation from all regions of Ghana. The Ministry seeks to eliminate any perception of favoritism or nepotism, following past concerns about uneven access to military careers.

Dr. Boamah reiterated the Mahama administration’s stance that enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces must not be influenced by financial inducements, political affiliation, or personal connections.

National Service Volunteers to Receive Optional Military Training

In a related development, the Ministry of Defence also announced a complementary initiative: the launch of the National Service Emergency Response Readiness Programme. Scheduled to begin in August 2025, this programme will provide voluntary military training to 10,000 national service personnel.

Although participation will be non-compulsory, the Minister strongly encouraged eligible young Ghanaians to enroll, describing it as a valuable opportunity to acquire emergency preparedness skills, instill discipline, and build leadership capacity. The training will also help enhance the country’s civilian readiness in times of natural disasters, public emergencies, or civil unrest.

This is the first time such a training programme has been incorporated into the National Service framework, reflecting a shift in how the state views the role of youth in national security architecture. The move is expected to deepen civic engagement among young people while preparing a trained reserve pool that can support the regular armed forces during emergencies.

Audit Uncovers Recruitment Gaps, Delays in Training

Addressing concerns over irregularities in past recruitment cycles, Dr. Boamah presented findings from a Ministry-led audit into enlistment procedures and training backlogs. The review uncovered that 34 personnel from Regular Career Course (RCC) 64, who had initially failed to meet entry protocols, were later allowed to continue after successfully completing a full year of military training. These cases were deemed exceptional and handled with discretion based on the individuals’ performance and conduct during training.

Further investigation revealed that 210 individuals across RCC 64, RCC 65, and Short Service Commission (SSC) 62 were enlisted despite failing to satisfy fundamental eligibility criteria. The Ministry is taking corrective measures to ensure future recruitment processes are rigorously enforced and insulated from manipulation.

In a notable revelation, the Minister confirmed that no official recruitment for non-officer soldiers has occurred since October 2021. Furthermore, the Army Recruits Training School (ARTS), which is responsible for training enlisted personnel, has not been operational for over 17 months. As a result, 2,872 prospective recruits are currently in limbo, awaiting their scheduled induction and training.

Dr. Boamah assured the public that the Ministry is actively working to address these challenges and restart the training pipeline to prevent further delays.

Public Warned Against Recruitment Fraud

The Minister concluded his briefing with a strong caution to the public against fraudulent schemes involving fake military recruiters. He urged prospective applicants to avoid making payments to individuals or entities claiming to facilitate enlistment, warning that such practices are not only illegal but also undermine the integrity of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Dr. Boamah stressed that all future recruitment exercises will be publicly advertised exclusively through official government channels.