Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has asked the government to integrate the National Service Scheme (NSS) into its development strategy.
He was giving his address as a Guest of Honour during the formal launch of the National Service Scheme 50th Anniversary at the University of Professional Studies, UPSA on Tuesday, October 10 2023 under the theme, ‘NSS@50: Repositioning the scheme for a sustainable National Development.’
The Speaker stated that the trust in the scheme should be in line with the country’s vision. He further advised for a proper resourcing of the scheme.
“I want to add my voice to the call that for the National Service Scheme to be properly repositioned and to be sustainable, we need to integrate it into our development strategies and we need to resource it well. The trust in the scheme should be in sync with our vision as a country and our long-term development goals.”
The Speaker reiterated his call for the Ghanaian youth to verge into agriculture as a step towards solving the country’s many economic challenges.
He expressed hope in the Scheme as an avenue to develop Ghana in the near future.
“The challenges facing our nation today require sustainable solutions and the National Service Scheme can be an avenue for developing the next generation of leaders, problem solvers, and change makers. I am aware of the progress the scheme is making in agriculture and the intention to build on the current successes.”
“This sends a message to the youth to accept agriculture as a sustainable means of livelihood and I am a product of a farmer. I love farming, I love agriculture and as of today, I am still farming even tho I am the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana,” he added.
Meanwhile, in his keynote address as a Special guest of Honour, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo indicated that Ghana has what it takes to be the beacon of hope to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He raised a call for the youth to make the pacesetter dream a reality.
“I am deeply persuaded that we, the first people in sub-Saharan Africa to shake off the shackles of colonialism and imperialism have it in us to be indeed the beacon of Africa and the light of the world.”
“Let us all rise to that challenge and make the Black Star sparkle, we can do it. I am confident we can use all the blessings that have been bestowed on us by the Almighty to bring process and posterity to Ghana and Mother Africa,” he concluded.
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Story by: Frederick Kunzote-Ani | univers.ug.edu.gh
