The Executive Director of National Service Scheme(NSS), Vincent Senam Kuagbenu has reacted to public backlash at the Scheme’s intention to deploy service personnel to direct traffic in the cities, adding that “Ghanaians are too elitist in our approach to solving problems”.
He said the establishment of the Scheme is to help solve problems affecting the nation’s development therefore, deploying service personnel to respond to the challenge of road traffic congestion, was in line with the Scheme’s mandate.
He was speaking on the JOY FM Super Morning Show with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Tuesday April 2, 2013.
He corrected the impression that service personnel were just going to direct traffic but were to be engaged in what is a “road management module”. The module includes training in administering first aid.
“There is nothing wrong with directing traffic”. He chided the elitist mindset of most Ghanaians and said that as a country we have to learn to walk the talk when it comes to solving problems.
He drew an analogy with the practice in Egypt where their national service persons are used to direct road traffic.
The scheme is also in talks with the police to get NSS persons into community policing and general military training. But he said no timeline to roll out these modules have been set.
He also used the opportunity to elaborate some successes of the scheme. The Scheme through its agricultural module produces 20,000 eggs regularly and is absorbing agricultural science graduates to do agric.
It has also developed 15 acres of farm lands producing over 23,000 bags of maize.
He lamented a situation where less then 1% of agric graduates are into agricultural activities while the majority find themselves in banks and corporate organization.
Yet Ghana imports 60% of her dietary needs.
Story by Ghana/Myjoyonline.com/Edwin Appiah