Government plans to recruit 12,000 new military personnel over the next three and a half years

The recruitment drive forms part of a $1 billion investment package aimed at modernising Ghana’s military capabilities and addressing critical infrastructure gaps.

This is also the largest expansion of the country’s Armed Forces in recent history.

The Defence Minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah announced this at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, in Accra.

“I am excited to announce that a comprehensive enlistment and recruitment exercise is to be undertaken with the view to increasing the man-power strength of the Ghana Armed Forces,

” Altogether, we are enlisting and recruiting Twelve Thousand personnel within the next three and half years,” Dr Omane Boamah said.

The expansion plan includes the construction of 10,000 housing units across all military garrisons to address what the Minister described as a “17,000-unit accommodation deficit” currently affecting military personnel.

The recruitment drive will target specific qualifications, including Agricultural Extension Officers, Artisans, Engineers, and Biochemists, to support Ghana’s industrialization and food security objectives under the RESET Ghana agenda.

“Looking at the needs of the Ghana Armed Forces and in particular the desire to build institutional capacity to support the ongoing drive towards industrialization and food security, future enlistment and recruitment exercises will also be targeting specific qualifications,” he explained.

The Minister warned the public against recruitment fraudsters, stating that the Ghana Armed Forces has not contracted any individuals or organizations to undertake recruitment on its behalf. “Joining the Ghana Armed Forces under President Mahama will be based solely on merit, not money,” he emphasized.

In addition to regular military recruitment, Ghana will launch the National Service Emergency Response Readiness Programme (NSERRP) in August, training 10,000 national service volunteers in basic military and emergency response skills.

The six-week orientation program, running in two batches from August to October, will cover Basic Military Orientation, First Aid, Disaster Management, and Physical Training.

The training is optional for national service personnel.

“The core objective of the NSERRP is to equip National Service Personnel with relevant skills in security, disaster preparedness and public safety,” the Minister said.

The $1 billion modernization package will provide the Ghana Army with advanced tactical vehicles, body armor, and digital communication systems.

The Navy will receive enhanced patrol vessels and radar integration systems, while the Air Force will acquire new air assets including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Richard Aniagyei, ISD