National Service Personnel threaten to demonstrate over unpaid allowance

National Service Personnel (NSS) have threatened to demonstrate against the government over its refusal to implement the 60% increment in allowance of personnel announced by the previous government.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government before exiting power approved an increase in the allowances of national service personnel from GH¢350 to GH¢559.

The increment of the service personnel took effect January 1, 2017.

A letter signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Patrick Nomo dated December 14, 2016 said, "Approval is hereby given for the National Service personnel allowance to be adjusted as follows: Current rate - GH¢350 Approved rate - GH¢549.04."

President of the National Service Personnel Association in the Greater Accra region, Kojo Danquah said the personnel will demonstrate if government fails to pay them.

"The allowance was supposed to have taken effect January 1, 2017, we waited patiently and we went to the bank at the end of the month, to our surprise we were paid the initial amount of GH¢350 which were paid to us over the years.

"For the past three to four years now there hasn’t been any increment in the allowances of National service personnel notwithstanding, high utility bills, inflation, high cost of living, if there has been an approval of increment then that increment must be given to us …we are planning to meet all necessary stakeholders involved and if it includes hitting the street, we will," Kojo Danquah said.