A senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana–Legon, Dr. Asah Asante, has advised Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to reconsider his proposal to abolish the National Service Scheme.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, addressing ministers, NPP leadership, and party supporters at UPSA in Accra, revealed his intention to make the National Service Scheme non-mandatory under his presidency, allowing students the choice to opt-out.
Expressing his dissent on the Morning Starr with Francis Abban, the senior political science lecturer contested the Vice President’s stance on the National Service Scheme.
“I disagree with him. The National Service, if you look at it carefully, is one of the areas that have come to support this government.
The government is running away simply because they have not been able to pay them and pay a realistic amount of money to them,” Dr. Asante asserted.
He highlighted the significant role the National Service Personnel Scheme plays in supporting rural areas facing human resource challenges.
Dr. Asante emphasized the potential for improvement rather than outright removal, stating, “I thought that we could have really improved it and made sure that they receive their allowances on time and then you direct them to another area.”
Dr. Asante urged the Vice President to reconsider and propose an alternative, emphasizing that discarding the National Service would result in a significant deficit in societal functioning.
“You go to certain rural areas you will realize their support. National Service plays a key role so why are you taking it away? I thought that we could have really improved it and made sure that they receive their allowances on time and then you direct them to another area”.
“I think that the Vice President must relook at that and come up with something else. Throwing National Service away no, it is going to be a big deficit in our way of life,” Dr. Asante stated.