Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, on Friday suggested to the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) to set up skills development centres for service personnel to undergo technical, entrepreneurial and vocational training to make them self-employable.
This, she said, would help to avoid the situation where personnel were left frustrated, seeking for non-existence white collar jobs and reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe made the suggestion in a speech read on her behalf, at the opening of the second annual national delegates congress of the NASPA in Cape Coast, under the theme: “Youth Volunteerism: Harnessing the Power of the Youth for Nation Building - The role of NASPA”.
The three-day congress, being attended by delegates from all over the country, would elect new executives for one year term in office.
The Regional Minister further suggested that, the monies accruing from dues paid by the personnel should be used to construct transit quarters to ease the accommodation problems personnel face, particularly in the rural areas, while bicycles should also be purchased to facilitate their easy transportation in the remote areas.
She paid tribute to all who served under the Scheme particularly the various managers for their tireless efforts in sustaining it, since its inception and bemoaned the unpatriotic behaviour of some personnel who failed to accept postings to remote areas.
Mrs Benyiwa-Doe described such attitudes as “immoral” and urged managers of the Scheme to as far as possible resist such temptations and pressure to change postings of such personnel.
She observed that the re-launch of the NASPA last year was an excellent idea since it would bring the youth together, promote their welfare and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the personnel.
Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, Executive Director of National Service Scheme (NSS), launched a new website for the NASPA and emphasized that it was to help to disseminate information and also for personnel to channel their criticisms and suggestions to the Scheme.
He said the Scheme was established to develop a sense of nationalism and patriotism in the youth and commended personnel for their volunteerism spirit and for taking the challenge to provide services in the areas of education, health, agriculture and community.
Mr Kuagbenu recounted that personnel did not receive pay for the service they render to the state because the work they do could not be equated to the allowances they receive.
He challenged the incoming national executives to further advance the course of the Scheme and educate the youth to abstain from negative vices that were inimical to their future advancement.
Mr Seth Asiedu, Central Regional Director of the NSS, said the youth are the future and progressive force for the country’s development and therefore, needed to be aware of their roles, duties and responsibilities for them to discharge their functions appropriately.
He said the NASPA would discharge their aspiration and commended the efforts of the outgoing national executives for their hard work and encouraged the new ones to take cue from that.