The National Service Scheme (NSS) has denied criticism over its intention to send personnel abroad as part of a new decade-long policy.
In an interview, he revealed that the programme plans to deploy personnel to various countries including Nigeria, the UK and the US.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some stakeholders accusing the scheme of straying from its mandate and failing to address deep-rooted issues such as payment of personnel allowances.
Ambrose Essah, director of corporate affairs at NSS, said the scheme is exploring partnerships with several countries including India, the US, Gambia and the UK.
He championed the idea of ββengaging talent in exchange programs.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong. All universities have official exchange programmes with universities outside Ghana. So, during their sabbatical leave, they go there officially to study a special innovation or project and then come back. So why is there not a similar programme for the National Service,” he said.
Meanwhile, parliament’s education committee has announced plans to send national service personnel to The Gambia.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Gambian government and the National Service Authority.
The move comes as a result of the recently passed National Mandates Bill 2024. A provision in the bill that allows fresh graduates to be sent overseas has raised fears of a talent drain.
The Principal Director of the committee, Peter Nortz Kotoe, in an interview with Citi News in Accra on Friday, revealed that funding for the exchange programme will come from the World Bank and the Gambian government and not the Ghanaian government.
“For now, that is what is on the table. So until they decide to go to another country, it may be considered if that country requests it. But it is not in this law that they should go to Gambia. It is not the government that is paying, it is the Gambian government and the World Bank that are asking for this.”
“So it is not us who pay. If the Gambian government or other countries are interested in employing them, that is fine. It will reduce unemployment in the country. But they are specifically looking for teachers and not other workers,” he said.
Furthermore, Nortz Kotoe announced that the bill aims to change the age limit for the national service system.
“We are not going to limit the military service age to 40. If you want to serve after 40, of course you are free to do so as long as you are over 18. But if you don’t want to serve at 40, you can apply for an exemption and it will be granted,” he added.
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