The National Service Authority (NSA) has cautioned employers against recruiting individuals who do not possess valid national service certificates, warning that such actions could attract sanctions under Ghanaian law.
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu, Deputy Director General in charge of Operations, emphasized that hiring individuals who have not completed the mandatory national service programme constitutes a punishable offence.
His remarks come as the Authority steps up efforts to strengthen compliance across both public and private sector institutions. The national service scheme has long faced challenges, including ghost names, payroll fraud, and weak enforcement of placement regulations.
Despite the warning, Lt. Col. Kpeungu clarified that the NSA’s immediate priority is not to punish offenders but to promote awareness and ensure compliance. He noted that some employers and employees may not fully understand the legal requirement to present a valid certificate before employment.
He encouraged organisations with affected staff to engage the Authority to regularise their records rather than resorting to dismissals. According to him, administrative solutions will be prioritised before any punitive measures are taken.
National service remains a compulsory one-year programme for graduates of accredited tertiary institutions in Ghana and is a key requirement for employment in many sectors.
