NSS Marks 50 Years with First Policy Revision

The National Service Scheme (NSS) has launched a ten-year policy aimed at transforming its operations, shifting from primarily mobilizing and deploying young graduates to focusing on holistic capacity building and empowerment. The policy, known as the NSS Policy (2024-2034), marks a significant change for the NSS, which has operated without formal policy guidelines for years.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched the policy in Accra, emphasizing the importance of embracing these changes to focus on the new direction of the NSS. The theme of the launch was “Innovative Deployment: Developing Prospects for the Future.”

The President stated that with the new policy, the NSS would play a more crucial role in shaping the nation’s future and empowering the youth to achieve their full potential. He called on all stakeholders to support the scheme in achieving its objectives, assuring that the government would provide the necessary environment, resources, and logistical support for the policy’s successful implementation.

The NSS policy aims to enhance capacities, reinforce structures, and effectively mobilize and deploy the increasing number of graduates to areas of national priority. It includes interventions such as expanding external agriculture programs for NSS personnel, establishing information and communications technology (ICT) hubs, and implementing applications to improve efficiency.

The Executive Director of NSS, Osei Assibey Antwi, described the policy launch as a milestone and expressed expectations for a new law to expand existing programs and introduce new ones. He appealed to the President to approve the Ghana National Service Authority Bill to strengthen the NSS further.

The NSS, as a public institution, has been in existence for 50 years, supporting national emergencies, assisting in areas of national priority, and contributing to service delivery. The policy represents a significant step forward in transforming the NSS to a more standardized and structured institution.