Eight member board National Service Scheme Board Inaugurated

National Service Scheme

An eight member board has been inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Prof. Naana Jane Oppku Agyemang to take charge of the affairs of the National Service Scheme (NSS).

The inauguration, which was in accordance with the Ghana National Service Scheme (NSS) Act 426 of 1980, according to the minister, mandates the Board Members to discharge their duties to bring positive impact to the state.

Quoting from the lists of obligations and mandates from the Act 426, she said: "the board shall access the manpower needs of the Republic and advice the government employment of the citizens who complete the period of national service."

She urged the Board members, headed by Mrs. Gifty Mahama Biyira, to set forth the national policy frame work and orientation of the scheme and take measures for the implementation of the policy orientation as part of their functions

Other functions spelt out to the board to operate within are measures that will instill a sense of civic duty and voluntarism in the citizens and ensure the realization of the purpose of the scheme.

And also to carry out specified activities determined by the President for the development of the programmes for the achievement of equality of life of the youth.

Even though the Minister charged the Board members to discharge their duties in relation to the constitution of Ghana she, however, warned that "we do not expect the board to take over the role of management; we expect management to work with the Board for the smooth running of the scheme".

She further called on the members to be consistent with their roles in resolving internal matters and avoidance of unnecessary external interventions.

"Proper management of finances and procedures as explained in the Act, posting to be consistent with national needs and improving performance in all areas of endeavour," the education minister urged.

The Education Minister added that her ministry expects the board to offer sound, realistic policy direction, advice and support for management to implement strategies of the scheme.

She acknowledged the NSS for entrepreneurial and skills development programmes that it has adopted to create employment opportunities for the youth.

The board chairperson, Mrs. Gifty Mahama Biyira thanked the president for selecting them to chair the affairs of the NSS and pledged to effectively cooperate with management to smoothly govern the scheme to achieve result.

She said although the scheme is met with yearly increase challenge of personnel which last year alone had over 80,000 persons been deployed, next year 2014 the NSS is looking closely to 90,000 personnel to deploy.

"What happens to the personnel after their National Service would also be a priority of the board," she pledged.