President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described the elevation of the National Service Scheme into an Authority as a major step towards strengthening youth development in the country.
He said the transformation signified a bold decision by his government to equip the youth effectively for national service, leadership and commitment to the nation’s development aspirations.
Speaking at the official launch of the National Service Authority, in Accra on Friday, President Akufo-Addo said beyond fostering sustainable socio-economic growth, the modification aligned with the vision to bring the operations of the Authority to standard in line with modern trends.
The programme was on the theme: “‘The Dawn of a New Era”. President Akufo-Addo emphasised the importance of fostering responsible citizens with a strong sense of patriotism, stressing that “The dreams I have long envisioned for our youth and the future of our country are finally coming to fruition with the establishment of the National Service Authority.
” He revealed that the scheme saves the nation over GH¢ 3 billion annually in personnel costs, attributing it to the significant difference between the salaries of National Service Personnel and regular public service personnel.
“This transformation is not just about mobilising graduates; it’s about creating a cost-effective system that benefits our nation,” he emphasised.
President Akufo-Addo said with more than 150,000 graduates deployed annually, the NSA was expected to bridge developmental gaps across various sectors, including education, health, and infrastructure.
This massive deployment, he explained had proven invaluable to Ghana’s socio-economic development, adding that “The savings generated from this initiative allow us to invest more in essential services and infrastructure for our communities”.
Recounting the history of the Scheme, President Akufo-Addo said it had its origins in Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s Builders Brigade, however, it had evolved through various governments.
He expressed confidence that the new Authority would continue to enhance the contributions of National Service Personnel to the nation.
“It is our hope that the new structure will empower our youth and provide them with employability skills that make them assets in the job market,” he explained.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to supporting the NSA in its mission.
“I will remain a patron of this initiative, ensuring that we provide the necessary resources and guidance for its success,” he promised.
The President announced that the National Service Authority would operate under the Ministry of Labour and Employment to ensure a seamless transition from education to employment for service personnel.
This strategic alignment, he said was aimed at facilitating a better integration of graduates into the workforce to yield positive outcomes for the country. Ghana’s Parliament recently passed the National Service Authority Bill, 2024, into law setting the stage to restructure and expand the scope of operations of national service in the country.
The agenda is to address the employment needs of fresh graduates by enhancing their training and skills development. Among others, the idea is to deepen nationalism, voluntarism and discipline among the youth.
The national service concept continues to play a pivotal role in Ghana’s development agenda, with millions of service persons being deployed to all sectors of the economy to support the mainstream workforce in executing its mandate over the years.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
