Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has discredited news items claiming it is involved in a recruitment scam by using names and index numbers of some graduate teachers for fraud.
Earlier reports suggest a group of students who graduated from the University of Education Winneba, Kumasi campus this year, accused management of the NSS and the school authorities of illegally registering their names for National Service.
The group of fresh 76 English teachers alleged they did not register for national service but their names and index numbers have been captured in the NSS system and being used for unlawfully.
In response, the NSS in a statement denied its involvement in such happenings at the Kumasi campus of the UEW, describing the accusations as outrageous and “must be treated with the contempt it deserves”.
The statement issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of the NSS explained that on July 24, 2018, the scheme had a tip-off concerning a fake list of unqualified graduates that was submitted by the UEW-Kumasi Campus.
“Upon receipt of the tip-off, Management wrote a letter dated 24th July 2018 to the National Security Minister with copies to the National Security Coordinator and the Director of Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) requesting for investigation into the allegation and bring to book, the perpetrators of the offence,” the statement clarified.
According to the communique, management of the UEW consequently vowed to investigate the matter and sanction any member of its staff found culpable following a meeting held on September 25, 2018 with the NSS management.
“It is therefore, not true that Management of National Service Scheme has not acted on the allegation. Actions Taken It is important to note that as part of the current technological transformation and innovation happening at NSS, Management has put in place stringent measures to identify and block all impersonators in the NSS Database,” the NSS further stated.
Read below the full statement
REJOINDER: UEW STUDENT-TEACHERS ACCUSE MANAGEMENT, NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME OF FRAUD.
The attention of the Management of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has been drawn to a ghanaweb online news article on 16th October, 2018 with the above caption.
Management of NSS want to state unequivocally that it has no hand in the list of graduates released from the University of Education, Winneba – Kumasi Campus.
Management therefore, views the accusation of NSS of fraud as feverous, preposterous and must be treated with the contempt it deserves. Management want to state herein that in every calendar year, the Scheme writes to all the Tertiary Institutions in the country to submit a Final Year list of their students who are due for National Service.
The list is submitted in both soft and hard copies which is processed by NSS to enable the graduates register for National Service. On the 24th July 2018, Management received a tip-off that the list submitted by the University of Education, Winneba - Kumasi Campus with which NSS Pin Codes were generated had some names of unqualified graduates for National Service.
Upon receipt of the tip-off, Management wrote a letter dated 24th July 2018 to the National Security Minister with copies to the National Security Coordinator and the Director of Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) requesting for investigation into the allegation and bring to book, the perpetrators of the offence.
Management also, held a meeting on the 25th September 2018 with the Authorities of the University of Education, Winneba who promised to investigate the matter and punish any member of its staff found to have compromised his or her position in the said allegation.
It is therefore, NOT TRUE that Management of National Service Scheme has not acted on the allegation. Actions Taken It is important to note that as part of the current technological transformation and innovation happening at NSS, Management has put in place stringent measures to identify and block all impersonators in the NSS Database.
PRESS RELEASE PRD/PRESS/18/010
It could be recalled that during the press conference, to release the 2018/2019 postings of National Service Personnel on Wednesday 18th July, 2018, the Executive Director of NSS, Hon. Mustapha Ussif stated emphatically in paragraph 15 of his statement that the NSS IT system has identified 2,102 impersonators who have been put on hold for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Management has worked and is working with National Identification Authority to biometrically register all prospective National Service Personnel and authenticate same at all the Regional Validation Centres during the deployment registration processes.
The Management of NSS is practicing open-door policy and therefore, whoever, requires further information on its operations should visit our website on www.nss.gov.gh or contact the Executive Director of NSS personally.
Thank You.
Issued By: The Public Affairs Directorate, NSS – Accra.