The National Service Scheme (NSS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education on Wednesday launched the maiden NSS Stakeholders’ conference and exhibition in Accra.
The event aimed at creating a unique broad-based stakeholders interface to provide a central point for deliberations on the strategic imperatives for the scheme in Ghana in the long-term through the sharing of knowledge, expertise and value insight.
It would also create a credible and high profile platform to get stakeholders buy-in and to elicit support for the activities of the scheme.
The programme scheduled for May 24 is on the theme: “NSS in Retrospect, Challenges and the way forward.”
Mr Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, Executive Director, NSS, who launched the programme, said throughout the world global leaders had used national service as a tool to address critical national needs.
He said in almost all societies, the youth were generally perceived as the most valued assets, adding that the youth constitute the most potent force for change and for directing achievement.
“States and governments tend to prepare their youth for the future development of their countries. To reciprocate, the youth are usually enjoined to offer more in service to their societies,” he noted.
Mr Kuagbenu said as a developing country, the NSS believed in the full utilisation of innovative, efficient and resourceful strategies to respond to critical national needs such as teacher shortage, emergency and disaster relief and recovery among other issues.
He explained that the scheme has also engaged in programmes that were aimed at reducing hunger, illiteracy and disease.
“The establishment of farms, the construction of boreholes in rural communities and primary healthcare programmes under our community improvement units are ample testimonies,” Mr Kuagbenu said.
Mr Percy Amoo-Yankey, the event consultant, in a presentation, said the conference was aimed at pioneering an NSS event that created awareness about the work of the scheme.
He said the conference offered a unique forum for politicians, policy makers, stakeholders, youth advocates among others to share their experience.
“It is to position and establish the NSS stakeholders’ forum as Ghana’s leading youth forum that addresses critical issues affecting the youth like service volunteerism, empowerment and patriotism,” he added.
Mr Amoo-Yankey noted that the exhibition would also be an effective way of giving stakeholders’ the opportunity to see the tangible success stories of NSS.
Nii Adjei Anang, Member of the Council of State, who was the Chairman for the event, said the attitude of Ghanaians towards the scheme shown that they do not understand the meaning of patriotism.
He expressed the hope that the conference would educate the public on the prospect of the scheme and the way forward.
Major M.S Tara (Rtd), Chief Director at the Ministry of Education, pledged the Ministry’s support, saying this would also minimise stakeholder complains.
He said the conference should also educate the public that all were equal in terms of national service to the country.