Manasseh Azure calls for reversal of GH¢160 NSS deductions

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has called on the Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Ruth Dela Seddoh, to reverse the deductions being made from the allowances of national service personnel for NSS cloth and a capacity-building programme.

His comments follow reports that the NSA, in collaboration with executives of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA), is deducting GH¢160 from the allowances of national service personnel, with GH¢100 allocated for NSS cloth and GH¢60 for a capacity-building programme reportedly contracted to Zeus Atlas.

Reports indicate that the deductions are compulsory and are expected to continue for three years under an arrangement involving NASPA executives and the beneficiaries of the contract.

Reacting to the development, Manasseh said many national service personnel were unaware of the capacity-building programme and questioned why a mandatory training programme would be imposed on thousands of graduates with different academic and professional backgrounds.

"Most of the personnel have no idea about the so-called capacity-building programme that the NASPA executives have contracted Zeus Atlas to provide," he said.

He added that it was difficult to justify a single training programme for more than 70,000 graduates with diverse interests and career paths.

"It's even stranger to think of a one-size-fits-all training programme for over 70,000 graduates with varied backgrounds and interests. A few executives cannot pretend to know everyone's training needs," he stated.

The investigative journalist argued that participation in such a programme should be optional, allowing only interested personnel to pay for it.

"If anything, it should be optional, so that those who need the training pay to attend. It cannot be compulsory," he said.

Manasseh urged the NSA Director-General to reverse the deductions and prevent similar arrangements in the future.

"The deductions ought to be reversed, and future deductions halted before another scandal hits the scandal-ridden NSA," he said.

He also raised concerns about the role of NASPA executives in entering into and implementing high-value agreements on behalf of national service personnel.

"People who are supposed to serve as leaders during a service year lack the capacity to enter into, implement and enforce such high-value contracts," he stated.

According to him, the NSA must exercise caution when approving future deductions and contracts involving personnel allowances.

"The NSA must not become a breeding ground for possible corruption and questionable procurement deals," Manasseh added.