NSS receives e-zwich device for payment of allowances

The National Service Scheme (NSS), has taken delivery of 230 Point of Sale Terminal e-zwich device to facilitate payment of allowances to service persons expected to forestall future irregularities associated with the current system.

The Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems Limited (GhIPSS), which made the presentation to the NSS over the weekend, hoped it would ensure efficient and effective way of paying the service personnel and reduce the possibilities of handling huge cash at the district level.

Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, Executive Director, said the switch from the old system of paying service persons to the new electronic and technological platforms, is to make sure the eccentric structures that brought about numerous problems and corruption of scheme officials in recent times are minimized.

Dr Kpessa-Whyte disclosed that migration to the e-zwich payment mode starts from this month, and urged the Scheme officials to have a rethink on how to manage the National Service Scheme to attain greater heights.

“We are all uniquely placed to provide mentorship to all graduates that come out of the tertiary institutions, we therefore need to ensure that these people do not just pass through the service, but leave a lingering picture for the betterment of the Scheme, and the country at large.

“It is our collective responsibility to make sure the service thrives and instils enthusiasm in graduates who will be offering services.” he stated.

He urged the directors of the regions to use their positions to also help the Local Government in fighting the sanitation problem in the country, to help reduce ailments in the country.

The Executive Director stated that clean-up exercises should be made a regular affair with the full participation of the NSS persons, adding that this would re-engineer the spirit of patriotism into the young individuals to become great future leaders.

He encouraged all service persons to contact their centres to channel their problems for prompt solutions to be made.

Mr Kojo Ntim, Head of Technology GhIPSS, making the presentation to the NSS and educating the officials both at the regional, districts levels, administrators and accountants at a day’s conference on the usage of the device, said the device needs a fingerprint that forms part of one’s DNA, hence it makes it impossible for one to steal.

Mr Ntim said e-zwich smart card is a technology that helps government institutions to add value to money in their day-to-day transactions.

He said the e-zwich is a technology can be used for service payments; it supports banks to work on cheque systems and the Gh-link service which allows banks to interconnect their systems with other banks.

He said GhIPSS is happy to partner with the NSS to help pay service persons, but stressed that there is a lot of work to be done to ensure the success of the initiative.

Mr Ntim affirmed that after all the processes the service personnel would embark on in getting the e-zwich smart card from a bank are accomplished, each district would be given a terminal to allow the personnel to download their allowances without any charge and they can cash their money from a bank.

He noted that this is to ensure that the designated cardholder is the one doing the transaction.

He called on all NSS workers to act in the interest of the scheme by showing their support to ensure that this initiative works and it is sustained.