NSS Boss opens NASPA mini congress in Koforidua

The Acting Executive Director of the Ghana National Service Scheme (GNSS), Alhaji Imoro Alhassan has stated that the Scheme will explore new areas in agro processing and expand its poultry projects across the country.
He said in line with its objectives, the Scheme will continue to engage the youth and encourage them to take up agriculture as vocation after their national service through its various agricultural projects.
The Scheme will however continue with its core mandate in other areas as education, health, and community service, and ensure that service personnel continue to be deployed to deprived and rural areas of Ghana where their services are most needed.
Alhaji Imoro made this statement at his first public activity since his assumption of duty as the Acting Executive Director of the GNSS when he opened the mini congress of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) at Koforidua under the theme “Ghanaian Youth and Patriotism – The Role of Service Personnel”.
The Acting Executive Director noted that all over the world, young people have channeled their energies and skills into viable programmes that have contributed significantly to national development.
The Scheme has therefore always been committed to inculcating into young graduates, the spirit of patriotism and national service that is aimed at positively impacting on all segments of the Ghanaian society in the effort of nation-building through active participation.
He however regretted that in these contemporary times patriotism seems to be lost on many of the youth; and that, many young people today have turned onto various vices that have drifted them away from being patriotic and have rather made them to engage in several other activities that seriously affect the socio-economic development of the country.
He therefore called on National Service Personnel to make a little more sacrifice in the service of the country, show respect for authority and always put the country first in whatever they do and demands they make on the state.
A member of the Governing Board of the Scheme, Mr. Eric Bortey who is also the Eastern Regional director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) noted that there is a thin line between nationalism and patriotism, and that it is important for national service personnel to be patriotic as they remain responsible citizens.
He said in Ghana “we have seen individuals and groups display nationalistic tendencies only to turn round to sell the country for personal gains”.
He therefore urged service personnel to uphold the principles of probity and accountability, sovereignty of the people, the universal adult suffrage, the rule of law, the fundamental human rights and the freedoms and national integration.
A Guidance and Counselling co-ordinator, Mr. Rex Baah-Antiri noted that as focal people in the communities, service personnel should be able to disseminate useful information.
He charged service personnel to appreciate and defend the country’s constitution and help their communities to do likewise.
As part of their patriotic duties, service personnel, he said, should also be able to protect national assets, currency, democracy, culture and tradition.

 

Source: Ghana [radioxyzonline.com]