Ghana National Service Scheme Voluntary Service, Mr. Issahaku Nuhu Putiaha, the Wa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has appealed to authorities of the National Service Scheme (NSS) to consider reintroducing the National Voluntary Service Programme (NVSP) to help graduates.
He said the NVSP would help to engage graduates upon ending their mandatory service, thereby, preventing them from idling while they searched for permanent jobs.
Mr. Putiaha who was speaking during the Upper West Regional branch of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) end-of-service forum, encouraged the service personnel not to lose hope as they go into the job market.
He said his office would soon introduce the National Youth in Revenue Collection Programme for those who had just ended their mandatory national service and had nothing doing, to take advantage of the programme while they continued to search for permanent jobs.
Master Abdulai Mohammed, Upper West Regional NASPA President explained that the forum was meant to equip he and his colleagues the essential entrepreneurial skills that would prepare them to face the future after completing their service.
He said the forum was necessary because of the frustrations many of his colleagues often passed through in their search for jobs after completing the mandatory service.
The NASPA President used the occasion to explain to his colleagues that the intended 30 Ghana Cedis deduction proposed by the 10 Regional Presidents to organise the NSS Week celebrations and to print T-Shirts was cancelled by the Executive Director, Dr. Michael Kpessa Whyte in his quest to fight corruption in the system.
Mr. Mumuni Sulemana, Regional Director of the National Youth Authority (NYA) advised the service personnel not to rely on government alone for employment but also try to venture into setting up their own businesses in order to become self-employed.
Mr. Prince Kankam, Acting Upper West Regional Director of the NSS also advised service persons to humble themselves to attract the interest of employers and not be deceived by their certificates to be arrogant towards employers.
Master Issahaku Hissam, Wa Municipal NASPA President appealed to the MCE for office accommodation to serve as the Municipal NASPA office.
The forum was held on the theme: “Job seeking and job creation – the post-service experience of the service person”.