National service personnel to undertake service abroad in New Policy

The Ghana National Service Scheme (NSS) is set to introduce an innovative program that will allow fresh graduates to travel abroad for up to three months to work with international companies.

This new initiative, called the “National Service Global Practice Initiative,” aims to develop Ghanaian youth into globally-exposed leaders equipped with universal experience, ideas, and best practices that can be applied to the development of their local communities.

Mr. Mustapha Ussif, the Executive Director of NSS, announced the program during a National Youth Unemployment Dialogue held in Accra under the theme: “Addressing Youth Unemployment in Ghana: Strategies for Sustainability and Inclusivity.”

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The initiative is part of the NSS’s strategic plan and is expected to commence with the 2019/2020 national service postings. It aims to provide opportunities for between 100 to 200 graduates.

Mr. Ussif explained that the Global Practice Initiative is crucial for preparing Ghanaian leaders to address local issues with solutions informed by global best practices.

He emphasized the need for continuous development of leaders who can build strong communities using the skills and experiences gained abroad.

The dialogue also highlighted alarming statistics on youth unemployment in Ghana.

It is estimated that approximately 50% of graduates from Ghanaian universities remain unemployed for up to two years after completing their national service.

Additionally, 20% of these graduates are unable to find jobs even three years after their service.

Mr. Ussif expressed concern over these figures and called for innovative measures to tackle this issue.

In response to the youth unemployment crisis, the government has implemented several initiatives such as the Nation Builders Corps, Youth Employment Programme, and Planting for Food and Jobs.

These programs aim to harness the intellect and skills of the youth for vital sectors of the country’s economy.

Over the past six years, the NSS has deployed about 502,494 graduates to various public and private sector workplaces, with an average of 70,000 graduates each year.

In 2018 alone, over 106,000 graduates were posted.

The Scheme’s deployment is guided by section (3) of Act 426, which mandates the NSS to assign personnel to undertake national service duties across all sectors of the economy.

Mr. Ussif also highlighted the digitization efforts within the NSS, noting that the entire National Service application process has been digitized to enhance efficiency.

This digitization provides the NSS with large datasets to analyze and make informed decisions.

In a bid to foster entrepreneurship among graduates, the NSS launched the National Service Entrepreneurship Model in September 2017.

This model supports graduates with entrepreneurial ideas and sound business plans, enabling them to implement their projects throughout the national service period and beyond.

Additionally, the NSS plans to pilot a poultry entrepreneurship initiative this year, supporting 20 graduates with funding and skills development through partnerships with entities like MASLOC and the private sector.

This initiative aims to reduce the importation of poultry into the country and create employment opportunities within the poultry value chain.

Furthermore, the NSS has entered into a strategic partnership with the Songhai Group to establish a training hub.

Ten service personnel are currently being trained and vetted by consultants to develop next-generation digital tools aimed at solving the country’s challenges.

Mr. Ussif underscored that the partnership with the private sector is vital in galvanizing the NSS’s ongoing efforts to develop and empower service personnel, creating jobs and enabling them to compete globally in the talent market.

The National Service Global Practice Initiative stands as a testament to the NSS’s commitment to addressing youth unemployment and fostering sustainable development in Ghana.

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