NSA Releases PIN Codes for Over 132,000 Graduates for 2025/2026 National Service Year

By Joylinda Laryea / June 17, 2025

The National Service Authority (NSA) has officially released PIN codes for 132,393 eligible graduates from 100 accredited tertiary institutions across Ghana, marking the beginning of the 2025/2026 national service year registration and deployment process. This announcement was made in a press release issued on June 17, 2025, at the NSA headquarters in Accra.

According to the NSA, this year's figures represent a significant 26% decrease compared to the average intake over the past three years, with the steepest decline 36% recorded against the 2022/2023 service year. The reduction is credited to improved data integrity measures and tighter validation processes, which have eliminated inflated or unverifiable submissions from institutions.

Institutions Affected by Accreditation Status

The NSA disclosed that a total of 135,990 final-year student submissions were received from 122 tertiary institutions nationwide. However, 3,597 graduates from 22 institutions were disqualified due to their schools lacking valid accreditation. These institutions are currently not recognized by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

Graduates from these unaccredited institutions will not be mobilized unless verifiable evidence of accreditation is submitted to the NSA within the next 30 days. The NSA has urged affected institutions to work closely with GTEC to regularize their accreditation status to ensure seamless deployment for their students.

Private Applicants and PIN Code Access

In addition to the main institutional list, 908 PIN codes have been reserved for private applicants. This includes Ghanaians who studied abroad, as well as individuals who deferred or defaulted on previous national service opportunities. These applicants are expected to undergo final verification before their PIN codes are released. They have been advised to contact the NSA via its support lines if their codes remain inaccessible after June 24, 2025.

New Features in 2025/2026 Registration

As part of efforts to strengthen the credibility of the national service registration system, the NSA has introduced several new features:

Facial Biometric Verification: All prospective personnel must verify their identity using facial recognition, cross-checked with data from the National Identification Authority (NIA) linked to their Ghana Card.

Verified GPS Address Requirement: Applicants must submit accurate Ghana Post GPS addresses, which will influence regional placements to ensure proximity to assigned workplaces.

Registration is accessible via the NSA’s SmartHub portal at https://smarthub.nss.gov.gh. PIN codes can be activated by paying GHS 40 at any ADB Bank branch or GHS 41 via MTN Mobile Money.

The registration window opens June 17, 2025, and closes on July 1, 2025.

Military Training Pilot for Interested Graduates

The NSA has also announced a pilot phase for its proposed Six-Week Basic Military Training, to be integrated into the national service structure. A limited number of graduates will be selected from the 2025/2026 cohort based on interest shown during the registration process. These participants will undergo military orientation before proceeding to their main service postings, ensuring they do not miss out on standard service placements.

NSA’s Commitment

Speaking through the release, Felix Gyamfi, Acting Director-General of the NSA, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to a transparent, fair, and meaningful service year for all graduates. He encouraged all prospective personnel to adhere to the registration timeline and make use of support resources available via info@nss.gov.gh or by calling +233 302 772 714.

The NSA also attached a detailed list of all institutions, including the number of graduate submissions and their accreditation status, as verified by GTEC.

For further details, applicants and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the official website: www.nss.gov.gh.