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The Youth Wing of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has mounted a stand-up objection to what is seen as a diversionary attempt by a Deputy Director of the National Service Scheme to use the NDC as red herring.
Nana Boakye, alias Nana B, the NSS Deputy Director, recently claimed on Accra based Asempa FM that resistance by NSS personnel to a strange insurance scheme that the NPP government has instituted for them was orchestrated by the Tertiary Education Institutions Network of the NDC.
“The youth wing of NDC consider Nana Boakye’s pronouncement unfounded and, unwarranted attack emanating from an impotent, incapable and ill-advised management, that is desperately trying to defend an obnoxious decision and, an orchestration to divert public attention from his NPP government’s shameful policy to extort money from the pockets of National Service Personnel who are already squeezed by the current harsh economic conditions in the country.
“By this statement we wish to make it abundantly clear to Nana Boakye that, the position he occupies is not a political one. Neither do National Service Personnel perform their services based on political affiliation. For him to repeatedly mention TEIN in answers to legitimate questions is not only diversionary but desperation. He must therefore stop clutching at the members of TEIN as a smokescreen to cover the clear failure at the scheme,” a statement signed by Kobby Barlon, Deputy National Youth Organizer of the NDC said.
Nana B’s claims against the NDC TEIN had been in respect of serious agitation that has arisen in the wake of the NPP government’s institution of an Insurance scheme to cover possible accident and death of NSS personnel that will see a monthly deduction of Ghc15 from their stipends.
The National Service Scheme had launched the scheme in partnership with MTN and Glico Life Insurance, to cover over 90,000 personnel.
In addition to coverage of possible accidents, supposed benefits of the insurance scheme include free phone calls and text messages among MTN users only. NSS personnel are also entitled to Ghc500 loan payable within six months.
But in exchange, Service personnel will pay Ghc15 that will be forfeited at the end of the Service if they do not die or get involved in accidents.
Many people have seen the scheme as a, create, loot and share set-up by the NPP government, as government is supposed to be naturally responsible for the wellbeing of NSS personnel who only earn allowances while on national service.
Also the rate of death and accidents in respect of NSS personnel is very low making it a very profitable venture for all companies who will participate to draw Ghc15 each from over 90,000 personnel – and the number increases every year.
Service Personnel have said they were not consulted about the insurance scheme and that the NPP government unilaterally instituted it.
In opposition to its imposition therefore, the personnel have been agitating, a thing that Nana B is accusing the NDC TEIN of masterminding.
“If Nana Boakye is to be taken seriously as a man who believes in free choice as a political orientation of the Party he belongs to, he must, together with his bosses, scrap that insurance scheme which they are forcing on the young Ghanaian serving his or her country. You cannot tell Ghanaians that you believe in free markets and yet dictate options to people especially when they are young and economically vulnerable. It is simply unconscionable and directly contravenes rights of those citizens in the eyes of the 1992 constitution.
“Nana Boakye and his ‘create, loot and share’ team must take time to read what their duties are according to the law and seek advice if necessary, rather than insisting on sullying the NSS with a divisive labelling of the personnel as NDC members.
“To resolve the shameful and forceful imposition of this insurance scheme on the National Service Personnel will not take attacks on members of the National Democratic Congress. It will take common sense and respect of the rights of all National Service Personnel without political lenses. Nana Boakye must take the advice and leave the Youth of the great NDC alone.
God bless the NDC,” the statement by Kobby Barlon said.
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