I’ll make National Service ‘optional’ if elected President – Bawumia

New Patriotic Party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election and Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumi says the one-year national service to the nation will no longer be compulsory for graduates who complete tertiary institutions.

In a televised address to Ghanaians on his vision as future President, the flagbearer for the ruling NPP government said believes the concept of the current national service scheme needs tweaking to suit the demands of jobs by graduates.

Addressing party supporters and leaders on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) auditorium, Dr Bawumia said students will be given the option to decide whether to do national service or not.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, to help our youth get jobs, I believe it is time to rethink the concept of our current national service scheme. My government will propose that those who after completion of their education can secure jobs would be exempted from national service.

National service will no longer be mandatory and students will have the option to decide whether to do national service. This will also encourage companies to go to campuses for recruitment annually,” the NPP flagbearer promised.

In a related development, the Executive Director of Ghana National Service Scheme, Osei Assibey Antwi says his outfit is considering a review of the mandatory one-year government tertiary graduates use to serve the nation.

Speaking in an interview monitored by Thisterm.com, the former Kumasi Mayor said the Ghana Service Scheme in due course will submit a report of their assessment of the NSS Act to the Management of the Scheme for consideration.

“The Act previously mandated service personnel to serve for two years but was later reverted to one year. We are currently working on a proposal on the year’s personnel to use for national service,” Mr Osei Antwi stated.

The Service Director indicated the Scheme has studied the national service of about 20 countries including Kenya, Gambia and Namibia and that a final draft in due course time will be submitted to the central government.