The National Service Scheme (NSS) will today mark its 50th anniversary with a Remembrance Day ceremony, paying tribute to all the fallen heroes who served the nation since its establishment five decades ago.
It is expected that the NSS will use the occasion to reflect on its history, and honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
In an interview with the Daily Statesman, the acting Director of Corporate Affairs of the NSS, Ambrose Entsiwah Jnr., said the event is part of a year-long celebration that will include various activities extending into the next year. He revealed that the highlight of these celebrations will be an official launch, which is scheduled to be presided over by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo next month.
The Remembrance Day ceremony will include a flag-raising ceremony at the Forecourt of the National Service Scheme Headquarters in Accra, presided over by Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi. Similar events will be simultaneously held across all regional NSS offices throughout the country, highlighting the nationwide reach and impact of the NSS programme.
NSS roots
The NSS acting Director of Corporate Affairs stated, “The roots of the NSS date back to September 7, 1973, when the late General I.K. Acheampong, the former head of state and chairman of the National Redemption Council (NRC), signed NRC Decree 208 into law”.
“The NRCD 208 charged the Scheme to engage Ghanaian graduates from the then only three universities in Ghana – University of Ghana (UG), University of Cape Coast (UCC), and University of Science and Technology (UST) – to offer two years of mandatory national service, including a minimum of six months military training. This momentous occasion paved the way for the NSS to be born into Ghana’s national landscape.
“On September 7, the exact day the law was signed by General Acheampong, the NSS will hold a solemn remembrance ceremony at its headquarters in Accra. This event aims to honor all those who have served under the NSS banner, especially those who have tragically lost their lives or suffered injuries while fulfilling their national service duties,” he stated.
Mr Ambrose Entsiwah Jnr emphasised that the NSS is committed to ensuring a fitting remembrance for the brave Ghanaians who sacrificed for the country during their national service.
He said following the Remembrance Day ceremony, the NSS will roll out a series of activities, including football matches, gala matches involving staff and service personnel, fun games such as hiking and canopy walkways, cultural night festivals, awards ceremonies, dinner nights, and thanksgiving services.
These events, he indicated, will be spread throughout the coming year as part of the Scheme’s extensive 50th-anniversary celebration programme.
Smooth exit
Touching on the smooth exit of current National Service Personnel (NSPs) and the incoming batch, he explained that those who are finishing their service in September will be granted mandatory terminal leave from October 1st to 31st, during which they will continue to receive their allowances.
He acknowledged that this period would see a significant number of NSPs exiting the programme, creating room for new graduates from the accredited tertiary institutions to join.
He further revealed that the NSS would release postings for the incoming NSPs soon, and their service would officially commence on October 1, 2023. This new batch is expected to consist of approximately 150,000 service personnel, a number that reflects the continued importance of the NSS in Ghana’s national development.
Mr Ambrose Entsiwah Jnr. mentioned that, despite occasional challenges such as truancy and punctuality issues raised by some user agencies, the NSS had not received any major negative reports about its outgoing personnel.
“In fact, some user agencies have expressed a desire to extend the service duration for their personnel,” he revealed. However, he clarified that the NSS is legally bound to maintain the one-year service duration, which ensures fairness and equal opportunities for all participants.
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