Local governance expert Amon Kotei has urged the government to extend the payment of allowances to National Service personnel even after they complete their mandatory one-year service, until they secure permanent employment.
His comments follow an announcement by the Minister of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Ahmed Ibrahim, who disclosed at a press conference in Accra that GHC23 million has been disbursed to Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for the payment of allowances to assembly members. Both elected and appointed members are receiving GHC1,300 each for April and May.
While welcoming the support for assembly members, Mr. Kotei stressed the importance of providing similar assistance to National Service personnel, many of whom face financial hardship and unemployment after completing their service.
“National Service personnel should continue receiving allowances until they are gainfully employed,” Kotei stated. “This will not only motivate them but also reduce the likelihood of them being drawn into illegal mining, robbery, alcohol and drug abuse, or being exploited by political actors.”
He commended the government for its efforts to support local governance but emphasized that empowering the youth through sustained support would contribute significantly to national development and social stability.
Mr. Kotei also took a swipe at the previous administration, accusing it of wasteful spending on projects that yielded little benefit to the public.
He cited the banking sector cleanup, the National Cathedral project, and the Planting for Food and Jobs programme as examples of misplaced priorities.
“A lot of money was spent on things that were unnecessary,” he said. “The Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, for instance, was turned into a political campaign platform for the former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, in his bid to become the presidential candidate. But how many votes did he end up with?”
According to him, the resources used for such initiatives could have been directed towards building sustainable agricultural systems to ensure food security across the country.
Mr. Kotei further criticized the former government’s decision to compile a new voters’ register ahead of the 2020 elections, calling it financially wasteful.
“The old register could have simply been updated. Only 2.8 million people were added, which didn’t justify scrapping the entire system,” he argued. “It was an expensive exercise we could have avoided.”
Source: Jagri Boaz Binyinjom
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