National Service Releases PIN Codes For 2025/2026 Graduates, Gives Update on Military Service

• The National Service Authority has released PIN codes for prospective personnel for the 2025/2026 service year
• The authority received 135,990 submissions from 122 tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 service year
• The National Service Authority is rolling out a pilot phase of a six-week Basic Military Training programme

The National Service Authority has released PIN codes for 132,393 prospective national service personnel.

These personnel are from 100 accredited tertiary institutions across Ghana, ahead of the 2025/2026 service year.

In a statement, the authority said the current intake is on average 26% lower than figures from the previous three years.

Amid an ongoing scandal at the authority, it touted validation, enhanced transparency and stricter validation measures.

"This process has effectively eliminated any form of inflated or bogus submissions. As a result, this year's figures are on average 26% lower than the numbers received over the past three years, with a peak reduction of 36% compared to the 2022/2023 session."

According to the authority, it received 135,990 submissions from 122 tertiary institutions.

However, 3,597 submissions from 22 unaccredited institutions were not processed.

“Institutions with expired or unverified accreditation must regularise their status with GTEC within the next 30 days to avoid disenfranchising their graduates."

"In addition to the 125 PIN codes issued to graduates submitted by accredited institutions, a further 908 PIN codes for private applicants are currently awaiting final verification from the related institutions to be released. This includes Ghanaian students who studied abroad and individuals who previously deferred or defaulted and are now ready to undertake their mandatory national service,"

In addition to graduates from accredited institutions, 908 private applicants — including Ghanaian students who studied abroad, and those who deferred or defaulted in previous years — are awaiting final verification before their PIN codes are released.

Prospective service personnel are required to activate their PIN codes by paying GH¢40 at any ADB Bank Ltd branch or GH¢41 via MTN Mobile Money. Registration opens on June 17, 2025, and closes on July 1, 2025.

Applicants are also to NSA portal to retrieve their PIN codes and complete their registration.

NSS military training option

As part of a new initiative, the National Service Authority is rolling out a pilot phase of a six-week Basic Military Training programme.

A limited number of applicants from the 2025/2026 cohort will be selected to participate.

Interested candidates can express their willingness to join during registration.

The National Service Authority assured participants that final user agency postings will follow the military training, thus none of them will lose their placement as a result of joining the programme.

In April, the National Service Authority reached an agreement with the Military High Command on the implementation of the Basic Military Training programme.

President John Mahama first announced the programme during the State of the Nation Address to Parliament.

About the national service scheme

Established in 1973, the National Service Authority is a Government of Ghana programme under the Ministry of Education of Ghana with a National Secretariat in Accra, and offices in all administrative regions and districts across the country.

The scheme is mandated to deploy a pool of skilled manpower drawn primarily from tertiary institutions to support the development efforts of both the public and private sectors in Ghana.

Although it is a citizenry requirement for all Ghanaians who are eighteen years above, it is currently limited to, and mandatory for all Ghanaians graduating from tertiary educational institutions who are not less than eighteen years old.

The original intent of deploying freshly graduating youth under the National Service Authority arrangement is to ensure that priority sectors of our national life are never lacking in the requisite human resources needed for development.

NSS explores international deployment

YEN.com.gh reported that the National Service Scheme had hinted at a plan to deploy personnel abroad to countries like the US as part of a new programme.

According to the Director of Corporate Affairs at the National Service Authority, the scheme would come up with a 10-year policy which will inform strategic deployments.

The international deployment will also involve collaboration with the above-listed countries for personnel exchanges.

Source: YEN.com.gh