The National Service Scheme (NSS) has commended Parliament for taking decisive action in promptly passing the National Service Authority Bill, 2024.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Statesman, the NSS Executive Director, Osei Assibey Antwi, emphasised that Parliament’s swift approval of the Bill underscored its commitment to empowering the youth and harnessing their potential for nation-building efforts.
He said the National Service Authority Bill, now awaiting presidential assent, would revolutionise national service in the country, fostering a more robust, autonomous and impactful NSS.
He deemed the passage of the National Service Authority Bill as a crucial advancement towards optimising the management and oversight of national service initiatives.
Autonomy
Mr. Assibey Antwi indicated that Parliament had now given the Scheme autonomy and vested authority that would enhance entrepreneurship.
He stressed that with this status, the NSS can generate significant internal funds, reducing the burden on the central government.
“We are confident the President will assent to it to finalise this milestone. This is the greatest day for the NSS. The newly passed bill seeks to transform the National Service Scheme (NSS) by granting it corporate status and the requisite legal capacity to develop and implement national service policies and programmes,” he explained.
He touched on the fact that the bill’s objectives include promoting civic responsibility, discipline, patriotism, national cohesion and voluntarism among service personnel.
“The bill aims to enhance employability, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, creating a supportive environment for graduates completing their mandatory national service,” he noted.
He further thanked Parliament for its bipartisan approach and expeditious handling of the legislative process, underscoring the importance of collective efforts in advancing national development agendas.
Passage
On July 9, Parliament passed the National Service Authority Bill, 2024, aimed at establishing the National Service Authority to mobilise and deploy individuals qualified for national service to areas of national priority.
The bill, laid before Parliament by the Minister of Education under a certificate of urgency on June 14, 2024, was swiftly passed following its urgent classification by the Committee on Education.
The committee’s report, presented by its chairman, Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, stressed the importance of national service in Ghana’s development. The report indicated that the deployment of graduates under the NSS ensures that critical sectors are staffed with the necessary human resources, fostering national development.
Furthermore, the committee noted that national service goes beyond mobilisation and deployment, shaping future employment and development for youth.