NSS Director against interference in postings

Mr. Awimbila Ali, Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has appealed to stakeholders and politicians to desist from interfering with its postings.

He explained that if the purpose of National Service was well understood, it would help students to gladly accept postings to remote areas without complaint.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Sunyani, the regional director stressed that the postings “are meant to prepare the service personnel practically as they serve the nation in diverse ways.”

Mr. Ali explained that the postings were done mainly from the demands of prospective institutions who request for specific numbers of personnel with the relevant qualifications.

He however complained that whenever postings were out, politicians, chiefs and other opinion leaders approached NSS offices to effect changes for their wards.

“My outfit will not hesitate to turn down such requests,” Mr. Ali stressed, "Municipal and District coordinators of the scheme in the Region against effecting changes in postings as anyone caught would be dealt with severely.”

The regional director said his principle would help people in remote areas to develop and broaden their horizons in diverse ways through the knowledge and skills of service personnel.

Mr. Ali appealed to traditional authorities and land owners to offer land to help the Service replicate the success story of the NSS Branam Farms, near Wenchi to improve food security.

He said 4,000 yellow maize bags yielded from the NSS’ 163-acre Branam’s Farms in 2011 and the Service expected to expand the project to 250 acres this year.

The project has helped to develop the manpower skills of personnel, mostly in agriculture, through practical training and has equipped them with modernized agricultural practices, the regional director said.

Mr. Ali, however, said inadequate logistics, including combine harvesters, planters, boom sprayers for chemical spraying, were challenges confronting the scheme’s initiative.

He called on the Government, NGOs and benevolent societies to come to their aid.

The Regional Director asked out-going personnel to give correct details of their service numbers and qualifications when filling their assessment forms to avoid errors and delays in the issuance of the NSS certificates.

Mr. Ali also advised past service personnel to contact NSS offices in the Region for their certificates.**