The launch, which was held at the premises of the scheme’s headquarters, had NSS Board Members and National Service Personnel Association executives and other stakeholders in attendance.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6JAHkpo4S1QUj15wdJpqwAPb2ll5DC6u”]This compulsory insurance package spearheaded by various insurance companies, is expected to pay claims to service personnel who get involved in accidents in their line of duty.

The claims vary from GHc 15,000 in cases of death or incapacitation, and gh3,000 for cases of temporary disability.

As part of the insurance package, National Service personnel are entitled to a GHc 500 loan which is payable within six months.

Service Personnel will also be charged GHc 15 on a monthly basis as insurance deductions for the package.

According to the acting Director for the National Service Scheme, Mustapha Ussif, “the insurance package that we just launched… from today on wards, all national service personnel are supposed to be rolled up into this process. So we are expecting all national service personnel because this is  a very laudable initiative [since] we have received series of requests from national service persons across the country with respect to injuries and sometimes even death.”

He added that “this I think is a big relief to the national service secretariat itself because gone are the days where they would be putting the request to us, now they have the opportunity of even making a bigger claim from an insurance company so I would expect all national service persons to benefit from this package.”

He also called on all national service personnel to support the scheme to ensure its success.

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By: Michael Ogbodu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According managers of the scheme the recruitment was done in accordance with due process.

The Secretariat also said the recent increase in the allowance for national service personnel was not a hasty political decision.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Secretariat on Friday.

“The vacant positions were widely advertised in various Ghanaian newspapers, on the Scheme’s website, and on social media. Eligible applicants were therefore shortlisted, interviews were conducted and successful applicants were accordingly given appointment letters in line with the ethics of the public service,” the statement added.

The National Service Secretariat (NSS) has come under heavy criticism after it recently recruited new staff and announced a 60% increment in monthly allowance for service personnel.

Some commentators said the recent actions were deliberate attempts by the managers of the National Service Scheme were politically motivated to frustrate the plans of the incoming New Patriotic Party government which takes office on January 7, 2017.

According to the managers of NSS, “Management, acting on the directives of the National Service Board, secured technical clearance from the Public Services Commission and financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.”

“The process to consider an upward adjustment of personnel allowances began in April, 2016 when the National Service Board gave approval for discussions towards a new rate for the personnel allowances.”

“The increment of the personnel allowances to GH¢559.04 was arrived at by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission in the light of the fact that personnel allowances were calculated at 40 per cent of the graduate entry level on the 2017 Single Spine Salary Structure for 2017. Unfortunately, this fact has been lost in most of the public discussions on the matter,” it said.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Staff recruitment, allowance increment not political – NSS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I was impressed with the self-supporting programme of the Service in terms of the project they run in the agricultural sector, catering services, bottled water production plant as well as manufacturing and fabrication modules that generate income for the service,” he explained.

Mr Manamela made the commendation in Accra when a six-member delegation from South Africa, on a three-day study tour of the Scheme’s operation, paid a courtesy call on Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, the Executive Director of the NSS.

They intend to use their experiences to help in the restructuring process of South Africa’s Service Scheme.

Mr Manamela, who is also the head of the delegation, said theirs was a voluntary scheme, unlike Ghana’s, which was mandatory.

He explained that South Africa chose Ghana because of the successes it had chalked in its operation through innovative projects, as well as the peaceful atmosphere in the country, saying Ghana was indeed a beacon of democracy.

The delegation on their first day, visited the Scheme’s Papao Farms in Haatso, the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit of the Airport Police Station which is under the Scheme’s Module, and Subah, an urban sanitation programme to acquaint themselves on the operations of the modules.

Dr Kpessa-Whyte said the Scheme was established in 1973, under the Ministry of Education, with a National Secretariat in Accra, and offices in all the administrative regions and districts across the country.

He said the Scheme was mandated to deploy a pool of skilled manpower drawn primarily from tertiary institutions to support development efforts of both the public and private sectors.

Dr Kpessa-Whyte explained that the intent of deploying fresh graduates was to ensure that priority sectors of the national life were never lacking in the requisite human resources needed for development.

He explained that the scheme’s modules comprised the Educational Support Unit, the Agricultural and Agro-business, Rural Development Services, Community Health, Urban Sanitation Management, Urban Traffic management, Private Sector and General Administration.

Dr Kpessa-Whyte said its objective was to encourage the spirit of service to the nation among all segments of the Ghanaian society in the effort of nation-building through active participation and  projects designed to combat hunger, illiteracy, disease and unemployment in Ghana.

The Scheme is mandated to help provide essential services and amenities, particularly, in rural areas, develop skilled manpower through practical training and promote national unity and strengthen the bonds of common citizenship among Ghanaians.

Dr Kpessa-Whyte said the scheme had impacted positively on society since it was a gateway to the formal labour market for most educated Ghanaians and it helped in the acquisition of additional skills beyond the academic lecture halls.

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Source: GNA

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The 23-year-old midfielder who joined the South African giants from Wa All Stars in 2011 in an undisclosed fee said he is no longer happy at the club.

“From what I heard from the club, the coach didn’t want me anymore. I have always wanted to stay but, if they don’t want me there, if the coach doesn’t want me …I had to leave,” Gyimah told KickOff.

“I never knew something like this would happen. I was surprised too, but if someone doesn’t want you, you have to find a way and go ahead with your life.

“If I had to stay I would have spent my time on the bench or in the stands. He [Johnson] took a decision; he decided my future at the club,” Gyimah added.

Gyimah played 30 league games for SuperSports and made his debut for Ghana in 2012.

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Source: Goal.com

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