Deputy Minister of Finance nominee, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has admitted that he did not undertake the mandatory National Service, as required by Ghanaian law.
The Asuogyaman MP made the disclosure during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on February 24. 4
His admission came after a direct exchange with Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who sought clarification on Ampem’s compliance with the National Service Scheme.
The exchange unfolded as follows:
Afenyo-Markin: “Did you do National Service?”
Thomas Ampem: “Mr Chairman, I did not do National Service…”
Afenyo-Markin: “Have you done National Service? Yes or No?”
Thomas Ampem: “No.”
Ampem’s response raises legal concerns, as Ghana’s National Service Scheme Act, 1980 (Act 426) mandates all citizens aged 18 and above to complete a compulsory one-year service.
The law further stipulates that individuals who fail to complete the programme are prohibited from securing employment unless granted a written exemption by the National Service Board.
According to Section 7 (1) of the Act:
- “A person who has not commenced and completed his period of national service shall not—
(a) obtain employment outside the Scheme;
(b) be employed by any other person outside the Scheme; or
(c) be engaged in any employment outside the Scheme, whether self-employed or otherwise, without prior written permission from the Board.”
While Section 8 of the Act allows the Board to grant exemptions or deferments, it remains unclear whether Ampem received such clearance, as Afenyo-Markin did not probe further on the matter.
The National Service Scheme, initiated in 1973, aims to promote national development by involving graduates in projects addressing hunger, illiteracy, disease, and unemployment, particularly in rural areas.
Ampem’s admission has sparked debate, with some questioning how he secured public office without fulfilling this national obligation.
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