Andrew Kingsford Mensah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, has stated that the National Service Scheme (NSS) is undergoing crippling financial difficulty which is affecting its operations.
He made this statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday when the issue of the Scheme's contribution to the socio-economic development of Ghana came up.
Mr. Mensah contended that the Scheme's Personnel Emoluments for the year 2007, which has the ceiling of over GH¢62 million as the projected figure of estimates, had been slashed down to about GH¢14 million.
He described the situation as “woefully inadequate for the smooth operations of the Scheme. Slashing the Personnel Emoluments, in effect, cripples the operations of the Scheme financially”.
He remarked that the Scheme's budget estimate of GH¢890,000 for the Administrative Activity of 2007 for the national headquarters, 10 regional offices and 138 district offices had been reduced by 57 per cent to about GH¢381,426.
Mr. Mensah added that under the Investment Activity of the Scheme, the budgeted figure of about GH¢180,000 had also been cut down to GH¢80,000, a reduction of 56 per cent.
“Mr. Speaker, the effect of the cut down of the budget allocation to the Scheme has resulted in the Scheme's inability to secure office equipment such as computers, fax machines, photocopy machines, vehicles etc…for some districts for effective monitoring and evaluation,” he lamented.
He called for resourcing of the Scheme, and appealed to the Ministers of Finance and Economic Planning and Education, Science and Sports to consider enhancing the budget allocation to the Scheme.
In his contribution, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, MP for Atwima-Mponua, noted that issues relating to NSS had to be taken seriously because the Scheme was contributing to the country's socio-economic advancement.
“The National Service Scheme is not a national punishment but the best way for people to gain experience because it creates opportunities to learn a lot and experience life,” Mr. Asiamah said.
“The Scheme is still working on the payments of personnel who are yet to receive their allowances.”
Adding his voice to the issue, MP for Adenta, Kojo Opare-Hammond was not happy with some demands by young adults who preferred to be posted to the urban centres as against going to the rural areas.
He emphasized that the purpose of the Scheme was to give opportunities to people to know other parts of the country, and urged the youth to accept posting to any part of the country without complaint.
By Ethel Kangberee & Wisdom Peter Awuku
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