The Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on members of the National Schools Cadet Corps to uphold discipline, integrity and service to the nation, describing the organisation as a vital institution for nurturing responsible citizens and strengthening Ghana’s future.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, at the National Schools Cadet Corps Parade to commemorate Republic Day in Accra on Friday, the Vice President said the country’s progress depends on investing in young people and the values that shape their character.
She said the National Cadet Corps had, for more than seven decades, played a significant role in instilling patriotism, discipline and selfless service among Ghanaian youth.
“For 72 years, the Cadet Corps has trained its members and instilled in them patriotism, discipline and service-oriented leadership. The government established the Cadet Corps in institutions to help improve discipline nationwide because our future depends on our youth,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that this year’s parade, which brought together more than 10,000 cadets from all 16 regions, demonstrated the strength and growing appeal of the organisation.
She added that with a membership of more than 676,000 cadets across basic, secondary and tertiary institutions, the Corps had become one of the country’s most disciplined youth organisations.
According to her, the theme for this year’s celebration underscored the importance of discipline and character in national development.
“As we aspire to build the Ghana we want, we must invest in values and institutions. The National Cadet Corps plays an important role in this endeavour by preparing young people to become responsible citizens and helping guide them away from many of the social challenges confronting society,” she stated.
The Vice President urged the security services to continue identifying and mentoring talented cadets for future recruitment, noting that many senior officers in the country’s security agencies began their leadership journey as members of the Cadet Corps.
She encouraged current cadets to uphold the organisation’s proud tradition by cultivating discipline, integrity and commitment to national service.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also advocated expanding the Cadet Corps’ training beyond its traditional focus to include practical skills such as agriculture and environmental conservation through partnerships with educational institutions and other stakeholders.
She said such initiatives would expose young people to agriculture as a critical pillar of national development while equipping them with practical life skills.
The Vice President commended cadets for their participation in recent nationwide clean-up and tree-planting exercises and congratulated schools that excelled in the National Music, Jama and Drill competitions.
She also praised the leadership of the National Cadet Corps, particularly the National Cadet Coordinator-General, Mr. Tetteh Amerteifio, volunteer officers, education directors, heads of institutions and members of the National Cadet Corps Board for their dedication to youth development.
She announced that 16 officials would be honoured for their distinguished service to the organisation and expressed appreciation to teachers, parents, volunteer instructors and all those who contributed to the successful organisation of the parade.
The Vice President reminded cadets that discipline extends beyond marching, saluting or wearing the uniform.
“Discipline is how you keep your word. Discipline is how you respect time. Discipline is how you serve others through your actions and your words. And especially, discipline is how you carry yourself when nobody is looking and when nobody is there to reward you,” she said.
She urged the cadets to remain committed to those values, expressing confidence that they would help build the peaceful, disciplined and prosperous Ghana envisioned by all citizens.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
