NSS to be upgraded into an Authority – President Akufo-Addo

By Zeenatu ABUBAKAR, Accra

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed that government is taking steps to upgrade the National Service Scheme (NSS) into an Authority.

According to him, a draft policy is being prepared to that effect, and will be enacted into law to back the proposed new status of the Scheme.

It 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.

This is to expand scope of NSS operations and structure.

Since 2017, some 800, 000 Service persons have been deployed to all sectors of the economy to support the mainstream workforce in executing its mandate.

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

The anniversary is being marked on the theme: “NSS at 50: Repositioning the Scheme for a Sustainable National Development”.

Activities lined up include lectures, funding summit, blood donation, clean-up exercise, tree-planting, corporate social responsibility project, launch of the Golden Jubilee Magazine, among others.

President Nana Akufo-Addo underscored the need to fine-tune the scope of operations of the NSS for the benefit of the nation.

He stated that the Scheme should be able to address the employment needs of fresh graduates by enhancing their training and skills development.

President Nana Akufo-Addo said the concept underpinning national service ought to be taken seriously.

He noted that this is because the programme helps in Ghana’s growth by inculcating a sense of patriotism, nationalism, volunteerism and discipline in the youth.

He commended the NSS Executive-Director, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, for his visionary leadership and innovativeness.

President Nana Akufo-Addo urged the leadership of the Scheme to give serious consideration to areas such as health, agriculture, Information, Communication and Technology, as well as other technical areas relevant to the nation’s development.

He commended the NSS for the feat chalked over the years and assured that government will give the Scheme the needed backing for its sustainable growth.

President Akufo-Addo acknowledged the several youth programmes set up by his government under the scheme to harness the growth of the youth.

He also noted that the transformational agenda is tied to the new strategic direction of using the Scheme and other agencies to address the specific employment needs of fresh graduates.

“Looking forward, the NSS is poised for comprehensive transformation, recognising the evolving global landscape, and the imperative for sustainable development.

“My administration is committed to elevating the scheme beyond this critical current role.

“Through strategic organisational development, the Scheme will transition to a dynamic agent modelling young talents for the workforce.

“This holistic transformation agenda is tied to the new strategic direction of using the Scheme and other pro-youth agencies to address the specific employment needs of fresh graduates,” he said.

The President also assured that the finances of the scheme would be restructured, and he applauded the leadership for making an impact over the years.

“Deployment of 65,000 graduates youth to the agricultural enclaves, creation of 81,000 jobs in agricultural and allied sectors. Development of 20,000 hectares of land for production, production of 110, 000 metric tons of food, production of 1.5 million birds in the generation of revenue of some $92 million by year,” he stated.
Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin advised that the NSS should strive to align its activities with the nation’s development agenda.

NSS Executive Director, Mr Assibey Antwi said the Scheme was cultivating some 20, 000 acres of land at the Sekyere-Kumawu economic enclave for agricultural purposes.

The project and other initiatives, especially in the tourism industry, built environment, among others, were yielding positive results, he noted.

He asked the Service persons to work hard for the growth of the Scheme.

“We are ready to support national development,” he assured.