The National Service Scheme will have its mandate transitioned into an authority, but no timelines have been given. A draft bill is being put together by the government to be presented to Parliament for consideration and possible passage.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, announced this on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at the University of Professional Studies in Accra, where he delivered a key note address to launch the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Service Scheme.
“To this end, I am pleased to announce the forthcoming presentation of a draft policy document to guide the scheme’s implementation. The first time in its existence that such a policy document would have been presented
“Subsequently, a draft bill will be developed and laid before Parliament for consideration. This draft bill aims to transition the scheme to the status of an authority, providing the legal framework for the envisaged deployment for employment (D4E) module,” he announced.
The Deployment for Employment is a scheme designed to encourage young graduates to create a positive impact and contribute to the development of the nation.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
According to the President, with the emerging developments in the world, including climate change, immigration, and economic downturns, the state and agencies could not continue with the business-as-usual attitude.
The President has thus urged the NSS to focus its operations on some key sectors aligned with the nation’s long-term development objectives.
He recommended that the scheme scales up and focus on the new module, which was initiated with the purpose and intention that the capabilities of the youth engaged will be deployed to generate maximum impact for the socio-economic goals of the country.
He mentioned that some areas the scheme could follow and focus on could be the NSS support of the education, health, digitalization, and agricultural sectors.
It was the expectation of President Akufo-Addo that these initiatives should find expression in the policy framework to be presented to Parliament.
He called on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who was present at the event, to expedite the parliamentary processes on the bills when presented.
THE JOURNEY
The Executive Director of the NSS, Osei Assibey Antwi, mentioned the achievements of the scheme, particularly since he took over as the executive director.
He earlier commended his predecessors, all of whom were present at the launch yesterday, as he mentioned their names individually for acknowledgement.
According to him, the work of the scheme in the country is evident in its face value across the country, adding that it has not deviated from its mandate.
“Because of the dedicated service, if you look around, all our works are there to see. Anyone who walks through the corridors of 37 Military Hospital will see that the trees you see there were planted by the national service. Not only here but across the country,” he noted.
He indicated that some 65,000 personnel were deployed to support teaching, 700,000 into the tourism sector, as well as setting up accounting aid to support the informal sector.
The Managing Director, Ghana Commercial Bank, Mr. Kofi Adomakoh, encouraged National Service Personnel to leverage the opportunity to better their lives.
