For as long as I’ve know, every Ghanaian university graduate is required to serve the nation for a year as a form of their commitment to our country. I believe it’s also the same with our Nigerian brothers but I honestly don’t know about other African countries. Every country has a way of doing their stuff and that’s what makes us unique. I have seen the Nigerian youth service and the activities that go on during that period and comparing it to that of Ghana, I would say it’s really really different in so many aspects.
I believe that serving your nation isn’t really a bad thing as every patriotic citizen should have the best interest of his country at heart. But, in as much as you’re serving your country, I think it’s also important to improve on yourself in any way possible during your period of service. On the normal, the national service period in Ghana is supposed to last for a whole year but, one can decide to drop out for other reasons after 6 months. However, just a few people end up ending their service after 6 months for other reasons. I know people who have extended their service for over a year and more and they still refuse to leave the organisation because what would they be doing once they stop? There are really no jobs out there for the youth and so I’d say one good thing about the national service is the fact that it provides graduates with something hold on to while looking for something stable to do.
But then, looking at things now, even though national service is supposed to be of benefit to we the individuals also, most of the youth don’t really think it through. It’s more like everyone wants to go and work in the big companies. But funny enough, you’d find out that these people rushing to be in the big companies end up serving water and running errands for their whole one year stay there. They don’t even get to learn anything now aside learning how to be a house maid.😂
Others also just sit before their computers at work all day doing nothing in particular. They would just press phone till they are tired, watch movies, pack their bag and go home at the end of the day. That’s not something I would sign up for. I’m currently in my 10 month of my nations service and all I can say is, it’s been worth it.
I really didn’t know where to do my service sometime last year but I for sure knew I didn’t want to waste a whole year of my life away. Deciding to be a teaching assistant in an impactful faculty in a university has to be one of the best decisions I have made with regards to improving my life. It’s stressful, I won’t lie. Hell, it’s a suicide mission but I have the passion for it and so I just do it with all my heart.
I’ve been fortunate enough to work under amazing leaders who are always willing to help me in one way or the other and I can’t even believe it’s 10 months already. But, in as much as I love what I’m doing, I don’t know if the national service scheme of Ghana wants to kill us or what. Allowances are not coming yet we are required to show up to work everyday. How are we to survive when we literally have no source of income aside our allowances. I believe this aspect of the national service needs to be really reviewed and addressed for the sake of the youth out there.
Aside this, I think the whole concept of the national service is a great move and if every service personnel should make the right decisions and go in for good choices of organisations to work with, it would be a win win for all parties involved.
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