The Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Service Authority (NSA), Felix Gyamfi, has declared a firm stance against the practice of “protocol” payments used to alter national service postings.
In a press briefing held on Tuesday, January 28th, 2025, Mr. Gyamfi pledged to eliminate this corrupt system as part of his broader efforts to restore integrity to the NSA.
“The era of simply paying your way to change your national service posting is over,” Mr. Gyamfi stated emphatically to the assembled journalists.
He emphasized that under his leadership, individuals with concerns about their placements will need to present their cases formally and transparently, rather than resorting to under-the-table payments.
Mr. Gyamfi also highlighted the issue of “ghost names” on the national service scheme, making it clear that both the fabrication of ghost service personnel and the corrupt practice of using payments to alter postings will be addressed with equal vigor.
“It is not only about ghost names, but also the phenomenon where you could just give somebody money and, within an hour, your posting is changed,” he explained. “That era is over. This year, if we post you and you have concerns about your posting, you must formally present your case, and we will assess it before making any changes.”
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Mr. Gyamfi clarified the circumstances under which a posting might be reconsidered, citing legitimate situations such as disability, illness, being a lactating mother, or marriage.
“If you are disabled, unwell, a lactating mother, or married, these are legitimate conditions under which your posting may be reconsidered,” he noted. “However, simply saying, ‘I don’t like where I have been posted, so I want to be relocated to a specific place’ will no longer be accepted.”
Beyond addressing corrupt practices, the NSA CEO emphasized the need to boost youth participation in agriculture to combat food insecurity and inflation.
“Our vision is very clear. We are returning to the farms,” Mr. Gyamfi declared. “Very soon, you will see our eggs, maize, and tomatoes,” he said, signaling the NSA’s commitment to actively contributing to food production.
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Felix Gyamfi reaffirmed his dedication to fulfilling the manifesto promises of President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that this initiative is a crucial part of those commitments.