1. The National Service Scheme (NSS) has taken notice of concerns raised by a
section of the public regarding the GH¢40 fee required from prospective national
service personnel to activate PIN codes for the 2024/2025 service year enrolment.
2. It is clear that the authors of the storyline did not find out much about the issues
and rather sought to twist and skew the story to portray the Scheme negatively to the
public, as though this was an extortion, as they suggested in their writeup.
3. Management wishes to clarify that the GH¢40 charge for PIN codes is not a
recent development.
4. In fact, as far back as 2006, when the Scheme’s online registration system was
introduced, all prospective national service personnel have always paid this fee.
5. The fee was initially paid through deductions at source from the first month
allowances of the service personnel after they have been posted. However, the mode
of payment was changed in 2015 to allow service personnel to pay before enrolment.
6. Management further wishes to clarify, by way of breakdown of the GH¢40 fee as
follows:
i. GHc10.00 for electronic NSS ID cards;
ii. Ghc10.00 for National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) dues
iii. GHc20.00 for online (Internet) services to the service providers. This covers the
cost of NSS certificates awarded upon service completion; facilitates the monthly
upload of assessment forms; and supports the ongoing maintenance and upgrades to
the NSS online registration system.
It also covers hosting of the NSS ICT infrastructure and the management of the central ICT system for optimal performance.
7. The online system further streamlines the registration process, reducing waiting
times and minimising errors, thus ensuring a hassle-free experience for all
applicants.
8. We reiterate that the GH¢40 charge is a well-established practice that supports the
essential ICT infrastructure and services necessary for the efficient operation of
NSS.
9. It is important to note that despite the rise in the cost of delivering these ICT
services since 2015, Management has chosen not to pass this additional cost on to
the service personnel. Instead, they have maintained the fee at Ghc40.00.
10. Management wishes to state that the NSS remains dedicated to the continuous
improvement of our processes and services.
11. Management is committed to transparency and is always open to constructive
feedback from the public and our stakeholders. We believe that together, we can
uphold the values and objectives of the National Service Scheme, fostering a
seamless and supportive national service experience for national development.
Thank you.
SIGNED
ARMSTRONG ESAAH
CORPORATE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, NS
