The Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to instilling discipline and leadership in National Service personnel through structured military-style training.

Speaking on The Probe, Mr Opare Addo disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) has been signed between the National Service Authority and the Ghana Armed Forces as part of efforts to enhance the capacity of graduates during their service year.

The initiative, he explained, aligns with the ruling NDC’s “Resetting the Nation” agenda, a key pillar of the party’s 2024 campaign. “If you aspire to become a global leader, discipline must be at the core of your personal development,” the Minister stated. “And what better institution exemplifies discipline than the military? This training is meant to prepare young people, especially those who want to assume leadership roles, with the right mindset and understanding of what leadership demands.”

He clarified that the programme is not intended to be physically rigorous military training, but rather a mindset reorientation aimed at instilling values of discipline, resilience, and leadership among the youth.

“We’re not putting them through boot camp,” he said. “It’s about reconditioning how they think, preparing them mentally for the professional world.”

Mr Opare Addo also addressed concerns over allowances, noting that no additional payments would be made for participation in the training.

“National Service personnel are already paid monthly allowances,” he explained. “If, during their one-year service, they spend two weeks or even two months in capacity-building programmes, they still receive their regular pay. So, there’s no justification for extra allowances.”

He further emphasised that service postings are determined by the National Service Scheme based on qualifications and national needs, not personal preference. “You don’t choose where you want to serve,” he stressed. “The scheme assigns you where your skills are needed most.”

The military-led training programme is expected to be rolled out as part of a broader strategy to shape the mindset and professional readiness of Ghana’s future workforce.