The General Secretary of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) Nana Adu Gyamfi has expressed disagreement with Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s statement that National Service will no longer be mandatory if he is voted into office in 2024.
According to the Vice President and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 elections, his government will propose that those who after completion of their education can secure jobs would be exempted from National Service.
“National Service will no longer be mandatory and students will have the option to decide whether to do National Service. This will also encourage companies to go to campuses for recruitment annually.”
Speaking on Campus Exclusive, Mr. Gyamfi argued that the Vice President’s stance undermines the value of national service adding that.
“I think that is an insult to those who have done national service because especially for us who attended a public university, we have a subsidy on our university fees. So, we feel that in as much as you are doing your service, the benefit the nation gets from you may not be equal to the amount that the state spent on you during your university. It is totally important because the NSS brings to bear the sense of patriotism.”
The NASPA Secretary also demanded clarification on the Vice President’s statement, seeking to know what exactly he means by making NSS optional.
“I’ve put it to him on almost every platform that I’ve sat after his engagement there that we want to know what exactly he means by NSS won’t be mandatory. Maybe if he explains it better to us, then we can also make an assertion.”
The National Service Scheme (NSS) in Ghana is a mandatory programme for all Ghanaian citizens who have completed tertiary education. Established by the National Service Act of 1980 (Act 426), the scheme aims to foster national unity and development by deploying graduates to serve in various sectors of the country’s economy.
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Story by: Michelle Lartey | univers.ug.edu.gh
