The Parliament of Ghana has passed the National Service Authority Bill, 2024. The bill aims to establish the National Service Authority, which will be responsible for mobilizing and assigning individuals qualified for national service in areas crucial for national development.
If given assent by the President, the bill will not only promote civic responsibility, discipline, patriotism, national unity, and volunteerism among those eligible for national service but also enable the Authority to develop and implement policies and programs for the scheme.
One of the key provisions of the bill is collaboration between relevant institutions to create a safety net for graduates who successfully complete their mandatory national service.
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This measure aims to enhance employability, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation among those qualified for national service.
The bill was presented in Parliament by the Minister of Education under a certificate of urgency on June 14, 2024. Following its referral to the Committee on Education, the committee determined that the bill was of urgent nature and recommended that it be passed under a certificate of urgency.
The passage of the bill has been hailed as a significant moment for the NSS. Osei Assibey Antwi, the Executive Director of the National Service Secretariat, expressed his enthusiasm, referring to it as the “greatest day for the NSS.”
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He highlighted the autonomy and authority vested in the NSS through the bill, especially in enhancing entrepreneurship and generating internal funds to reduce the burden on the central government.
The importance of national service to Ghana’s development was also emphasized in a report presented by the Committee Chairman Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah to parliament.
The report indicated that national service plays a crucial role in ensuring that priority sectors of the country never lack the necessary human resources.
It also highlighted the values of civic responsibility, discipline, patriotism, national unity, and volunteering that national service aims to instill.
The report further recognized that national service now goes beyond mobilization and deployment, serving as a phase for the future employment and development of the youth.
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The existing National Service Scheme has faced various challenges, including the lack of corporate status.
This has hindered the scheme’s ability to engage in activities such as land acquisition and contractual agreements.
To address these challenges and provide the NSS with the necessary capacity, the National Service Authority Bill has been introduced.