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Introduction
The Parliament of Ghana recently passed the National Service Authority Bill, 2024 to establish the National Service Authority. This authority is set to mobilise and deploy individuals qualified for national service to areas critical to national development. In a significant development, the National Service Scheme (NSS) has announced preparations to embark on a 10-year policy that includes deploying personnel to countries such as the USA, UK, and Nigeria as part of a collaborative agreement. Armstrong Essah, Director of Corporate Affairs for NSS, shared these details on Radio Univers on July 10, 2024.
“The globalisation of deployment will be a major motivator for personnel. The NSS cannot limit itself to Ghana alone. We have stayed local for too long. National service is a global concept; we are looking to integrate our processes with those of other countries, allowing for personnel exchanges. The host country will provide our personnel with the same benefits and allowances as they do to their own, and vice versa,” Mr Essah stated.
This announcement has received mixed reactions. Some stakeholders criticise the scheme for straying from its mandate and failing to address existing issues, such as the timely payment of personnel allowances. DUBAWA seeks to explore and provide a better understanding of the policy and the new bill.
What is National Service?
National Service is a mandatory programme for tertiary institution graduates, requiring them to serve the nation for one year. Managed by the National Service Secretariat (NSS), this initiative places graduates in various sectors, including education, health, agriculture, and public services, to gain practical experience and contribute to national development.
Justification from the National Service Secretariat on overseas deployment
This is not the first time the service has indicated its intention to deploy service personnel abroad. On April 30, 2019, the service made a similar comment.
However, despite the criticism, the National Service Secretariat has defended its plans. DUBAWA reached out to Ambrose Essah, Director of Corporate Affairs at the NSS, and he explained that the exchange programs with countries including India, the US, the Gambia, and the UK are part of a broader vision for the NSS. He explained that, similar to university exchange programs, national service personnel can benefit from international exposure and learning opportunities.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. All the universities have official exchange programs with universities outside Ghana. So sometimes, during their sabbatical leave, they go there officially to understudy some special innovations and projects, and then they come back. So why can’t national service also have a similar one?”
Criteria for Selection of Personnel
For many, the opportunity to complete their national service abroad is a dream come true. However, the criteria for selecting these personnel are often a point of curiosity. In an interview with DUBAWA, Ambrose Essah, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the NSS, indicated a detailed plan for the selection process, and a public announcement will be made soon to provide further details.
“Yes, there is a detailed plan for the selection, but I don’t have authorisation to make it known for now. But, I can confirm that there is a whole document on how the implementation will be done, and it will soon be made available to the public. The entire public will be part of the process, and a lot of consultation has already been done.”
Timelines for implementation
Mr Essah also revealed that he could not provide specific project implementation timelines. However, he assured me that the management would work diligently to initiate the project immediately.
“I am unable to give timelines as of now. But I can say that the management of the service is working speedily to ensure the programs are implemented in due course.”
Reactions from parliament
DUBAWA contacted the Education Committee of Parliament for further clarification. Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, the Ranking Member on the Education Committee, revealed that the current partnership with the Gambian government involves deploying national service personnel to The Gambia. He clarified that this partnership is akin to an exchange program funded by the World Bank and the Gambian government, not the Ghanaian government.
“For now, an agreement with the Gambia is what is on the table. So it is not part of the act that they should go to the Gambia, and it is not the government of Ghana that is going to pay, but the government interested in recruiting our personnel and the World Bank. But they are asking for teachers specifically, not other professions.”
However, he added that the agreement with the Gambian government is specifically for the deployment of teachers and does not extend to other professions.
This clarification highlights that the international deployment initiative is a separate endeavour spearheaded by the NSS rather than a mandate enshrined in the new act awaiting presidential assent.
However, Ambrose Essah, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the NSS, revealed that the agreement is yet to be finalised.
Key Highlights of the National Service Authority Bill 2024
The primary objective of the National Service Authority Bill 2024 is to establish the National Service Authority as an autonomous body designed to mobilise and deploy individuals for national service in areas crucial to national development.
A notable provision in the bill is removing the age limit for undertaking national service. Currently, individuals over the age of 40 are not eligible for national service, but this restriction may be lifted if President Akufo-Addo assents to the bill.
“A person who completes a course of study at a tertiary education institution and is 40 years or above at the time of completion of the course of study may apply to the Authority to be exempted from the policy. Such a person will be issued a Certificate of Exemption from the National Service,” Section 34 subsection 4 of the bill states.
However, in an explanation, Ambrose Essah, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the NSS, indicated that the new development is an option and not compulsory for persons over 40 and that if you are 40 years and above, you can still apply to do your service.
Another significant change is the focus on “deployment for employment,” which aims to improve youth employability and foster entrepreneurship. By granting the NSS more autonomy, the authority will have increased capacity to generate its funds, reducing dependence on the central government and potentially creating more job opportunities for the youth.
Moreover, the Bill grants the National Service Authority the legal capacity to develop and implement policies and programs aligned with national priorities. This is expected to streamline operations and enhance the effectiveness of national service initiatives.
Conclusion
The passage of the National Service Authority Bill 2024 marks a significant step towards enhancing the impact and reach of Ghana’s National Service Scheme. The Bill addresses critical national development needs by establishing the National Service Authority as an autonomous body while promoting youth employability and entrepreneurship. Also, the introduction of a 10-year policy to deploy personnel internationally, despite mixed reactions, represents a forward-thinking approach to integrating Ghana’s national service with global standards. Even though the service says the timelines and the criteria for selection of personnel can’t be made public for now as the implementation has yet to commence. The initiative to engage in international exchange programs, although not without its critics, underscores the NSS’s commitment to broadening opportunities for Ghanaian youths. As the Bill awaits presidential assent, its potential to transform national service in Ghana remains a subject of keen interest and debate among stakeholders.
