National Service Personnel (NSPs) in Ghana have been experiencing recurring delays in receiving their monthly allowance of GH¢715.00.
As of January 21, the 2024/2025 batch was still waiting for payments for November and December, with only the October allowance having been disbursed in December prior to the 2024 general election.
The National Service Scheme (NSS) policy stipulates that allowances should be paid in the month following the month of service.
The National Service Authority (NSA) typically attributes delays to procedural issues or batch payments, frustrating NSPs who sometimes rely on borrowed money due to these disruptions.
In the past, these delays have led to protests, such as the nationwide strike initiated by the Concerned National Service Scheme Personnel Association of Ghana (CONSPAG) on July 3, 2024, over unpaid allowances.
Although NSPs have historically protested non-payment, there has been a decline in vocal protests recently, despite ongoing delays.
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Many NSPs have been advised not to rely on the allowance due to the financial struggles caused by the delays, especially with the rising cost of living and scarce job opportunities in the country.
In December 2024, The Fourth Estate was set to release an exposé on corruption and mismanagement within the National Service Authority (NSA), but the NSA filed for and obtained a court injunction to prevent the publication.
There have also been speculations on social media about alleged corruption, including opaque recruitment processes and mismanagement of funds.
During the launch of the National Service Scheme into a fully-fledged Authority in October 2024, President Nana Akuffo Addo emphasized the importance of the NSS in national development, noting that the scheme deploys over 150,000 graduates annually, with 50,000 serving in the education sector, saving the country approximately GH¢ 3 billion cedis in wage costs each year.
Stakeholders are urged to address the issue of delayed payments, as these young people serving the nation deserve better.
According to the Mr. Gyamfi, allowances from August to December would be cleared.
The Acting Director of the Ghana National Service Authority, Felix Gyamfi, also assured NSPs that all outstanding allowances would be fully paid, attributing past delays to corruption and incompetence within the system.
”President Mahama has ordered a complete payment of all arrears”. he said
Gyamfi also hinted at President Mahama’s commitment to improving conditions for service personnel and the possibility of increasing the current allowance
K Fosu The Informant is a lifestyle blogger with 6 years' experience in content and web development. He is a Google keyword planner, SEO analyst, an influencer and entrepreneur who holds BA Degree from Ghana's Premier University.
