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A Petition To President Akufo-Addo: National Service And Issues Arising

By Amoako Elijah
Letter A Petition To President Akufo-Addo: National Service And Issues Arising
OCT 29, 2020 LISTEN

28th October, 2020.

H.E. EXCELLENCY NANA ADDO-DANQUAH AKUFO ADDO,

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA,

JUBILEE HOUSE.

Dear Sir,

National Service And Issues Arising

I would first like to thank you for the sterling leadership you have provided during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The measures you have taken so far have helped reduced the spread of the virus significantly; and also brought livelihood to considerable normalcy, although there came challenging times. I write this letter, however, to formally draw your attention to the issues National Service Personnel in the country face and suggest some measures to curb them.

The estimated amount spent by an average National Service Personnel is Twenty Five Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 25.00) daily, taking into consideration money spent on transportation, feeding and utility bills. This pegs the monthly expenditure of the average service personnel at Seven Hundred and Fifty Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 750.00)—about a hundred and Ninety-One Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 191.00) more than the montly allowance received by National Service Personnel. This makes it difficult for many service personnel to make endsmeet.

We would therefore like to petition your office to look into the issues service personnel encounter while delivering their mandate to their motherland. Below are some recommended actions to be taken to lessen the issues faced by service personnel.

  • Due to the increment in prices of goods and services, it is in our interest that you increase the amount of allowance given to service personnel, in order for us to provide our basic needs, meanwhile serving our country Ghana.
  • It is also pertinent to suggest that service personnel who might need financial assistance during their period of service should be given an opportunity to access loans and grants with very flexible terms of payment.
  • Mr. President, speeding up the clearance of personnel allowance at the end of the month is also a worthy action to undertake, as it would enable service personnel cater for their monthly expenditure in a timely fashion.
  • Finally, there should be transparency and a flexible process in the posting of personnel to various institutions. There have been numerous reported incidents of rejected personnel by institutions they were duly posted to. This adds to the frustration these personnel face finding a place to serve, and in the delivery of their service.
  • We know that with your benign nature, you have the courage to take measures through the National Service Secretariat to mitigate these challenges that the National Service Program presents to citizens.

    The National Service Personnel Association of Ghana is counting on your usual intervention in the several issues listed above.

    May the good Lord bless you, and give you wisdom and good health to lead us out of these crises. Thank you.

    Yours faithfully,

    Elijah Barimah Amoako.

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