National Service Scheme establishes venture capital department

Ho, Aug 6, GNA - The National Service Scheme (NSS) has established a department to assist Service Personnel to establish their own ventures after their service.

Mr. Ken-Wood Nuworsu, a member of the NSS Board, said this at the beginning of the 30th anniversary of the Scheme in the Volta Region on Tuesday, under the theme, "30 Years of Service to the Nation - Achievements and Prospects".

He said the Venture Capital Department would be operational next year. Mr. Nuworsu advised Service Personnel to venture into self-employment since people who were not as skillful and knowledgeable like them were making it on their own.

He attributed the reluctance of Service Personnel to venture into their own businesses to wrong orientation, which made them look up to public and established private sector organisations for employment.

Dr Kwasi Agyeman, Chairman of the NSS Board, said the Board was seeking an amendment of the Act establishing the Scheme to give it a new vision, purpose and mission for the benefit of the personnel and the country. He said the Scheme in its present form was only "building an army of unemployed," which was "a horrible waste of educated minds".

Dr Agyeman said, "there is something wrong somewhere," adding, "excuses are no longer tenable".

He said the Voluntary Service Scheme adopted by the NSS would provide opportunities for personnel to benefit from further training to make them self-employable after their compulsory national service.