National Service Scheme Set To Unveil New Policy Reforms

The National Service is going through repositioning with the introduction of a new policy set to be unveiled by the end of the month, aimed to reform the scheme, boost public trust following a review of its 44-year charter, its Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi has disclosed.

The scheme is mandated to deploy a pool of skilled manpower drawn primarily from tertiary institutions to support the development efforts of both the public and private sectors in Ghana.

Addressing journalists on the margins of Parliament when the scheme appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to address issues in the 2022 Auditor General’s report. 

“National Service, we are seriously working to reposition the scheme and as of now, the policy document is ready and has been forwarded to the presidency, once it is signed it is going to be outdoors.

The president said it when he was launching the 50th anniversary that soon, so I am sure by the end of this month, the new policy would have been signed.”

President Akufo-Addo indicated that a draft policy was being prepared to that effect, and subsequently worked to enact a law to back the proposed new status of the Scheme.

This is to expand its scope of operations and structure.

President Akufo-Addo, addressing the commemoration of the 50th anniversary celebration of the NSS, in Accra, emphasised that the NSS was poised for transformation in response to the emerging global trends.

The policy and the law, when they come into effect, will also give backing to a model called deployment for employment aimed at encouraging young graduates to contribute positively to the nation’s long-term development agenda.

As part of efforts at making national service personnel global entrepreneurs create wealth and jobs and also ready for the world of work, the National Service Scheme (NSS) has introduced new modules where the personnel will be trained into competitive industry leaders in tourism, information technology, building, and Construction, agribusiness, and industries, among others.

The concept, dubbed “Deployment for Employment”, which had already commenced, is a new strategic direction that moved from the traditional norm of “Mobilization for Deployment.”

The NSS, under the stewardship of Mr. Assibey Antwi, has brought innovations to augment the scheme, which includes the NSS/Teaching Program, NSS Youth in Housing and Construction, NSS/MSME Accounting Aid Program, NSS/MOTAC Support Program, NSS/Data & Research Project, NSS/ Youth in Agriculture, NSS/ IT Solutions Program

Established in 1973, the National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Government of Ghana program under the Ministry of Education of Ghana with a National Secretariat in Accra and offices in all administrative regions and districts across the country.

By: Christian Kpesese