My Year with the Ghana Armed Forces: A National Service Reflection

In 2022, after completing my degree in Computer Science and Technology in China, I returned to Ghana to begin my national service — the mandatory one-year program for graduates. Before continuing with my master's, I saw this as a chance to give back and maybe even gain some hands-on experience.

I was posted to the Ghana Armed Forces, specifically to an office known as 49, with the role of IT technician. On paper, it sounded like a solid opportunity. I was excited. I imagined working in a structured, possibly high-tech environment where I could apply my skills and learn something new. But the reality was far more complicated.

It all started with a one-week seminar that was meant to prepare us for our postings. Unfortunately, it didn't do much. It felt like a checkbox exercise — long and mostly disconnected from the work we'd soon be doing (or not doing). When I finally reported to 49, things were quiet. For the first two weeks, there was nothing set up for us. No computers, no structured tasks, no onboarding, no guidance. We were simply... there. Waiting.

Eventually, tasks came — but not the kind I expected as an IT technician. We were routinely sent to buy food: breakfast early in the day, and lunch around noon. The vendors were about a 40-minute walk from the office, meaning we spent nearly two hours every day doing food runs. Refusing wasn't really an option — when we pushed back, we were asked to do push-ups or jog laps as a form of "discipline."

It was discouraging. The gap between what I hoped to learn and what I was doing felt enormous. Official work hours were 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, but most of the soldiers came in late, sent us on errands, and left us feeling more like personal assistants than young professionals in training.

That said, not everyone treated us that way. There were some civilians at the office who stood out. They were respectful, welcoming, and tried to explain how the Armed Forces functioned. While they couldn't teach us much in terms of IT, they offered something else valuable: a sense of dignity. I made genuine friendships there — one in particular that's lasted well beyond service. I still stay in touch with a colleague who offers me guidance and life advice even now.

And there was one soldier — a sergeant — who made a real difference. He noticed how the other soldiers were treating us and quietly stepped in. He often took me along on his own errands, just to get me away from the office and out of the cycle of errands and punishments. It might have seemed small, but it meant a lot. It was a reminder that even in difficult situations, there are always people who choose to act with kindness and integrity.

Eventually, I completed my service and moved to Italy to begin my master's program at the Free University of Bolzano. Looking back, the year didn't give me the technical experience I'd hoped for. But it gave me something else — perspective. I learned how to manage frustration, how to maintain my sense of self in uncomfortable situations, and how to spot the good in people even when it's not immediately obvious.

National service wasn't what I expected, but it added something real to my story — not a line on my CV, but a lived chapter. And in the end, that counts too.