The acting Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) has expressed his displeasure over what he described as the erroneous impression being created by sections of the media and some social commentators about the recent recruitment of new staff and upward adjustment in allowances for National Service personnel.

A statement signed by Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte issued in Accra on Friday, December 23, explained that management of the NSS, acting on the directives of the National Service Board, “secured technical clearance from the Public Services Commission and financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance”.

The statement said that the vacant positions were widely advertised in various Ghanaian newspapers, on the Scheme’s website, and on social media. Eligible applicants were, therefore, shortlisted, interviews were conducted, and successful applicants were accordingly given appointment letters in line with the ethics of the public service.

The statement also indicated that the process to consider an upward adjustment of personnel allowances began in April 2016 when the National Service Board gave approval for discussions towards a new rate for personnel allowances.

According to the statement, the increment in allowance to GHS559.04 was arrived at by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) in the light of the fact that personnel allowances were calculated at 40 per cent of the graduate entry level on the 2017 Single Spine Salary Structure for 2017.

Unfortunately, this fact has been lost in most of the public discussions on the matter. The last time that personnel allowances were increased was in January, 2014. Management, therefore, hopes that the general public and especially the media would factor these facts in their discussions regarding the new recruitments and upward adjustments in personnel allowance.