National Service Personnel to Receive Full Arrears Starting Today – Felix Gyamfi
National Service personnel across Ghana can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the government begins the full payment of all outstanding allowances. The Acting Director of the Ghana National Service Authority, Felix Gyamfi, announced that disbursements will commence immediately following a directive from President John Mahama.
Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express on Wednesday, February 12, Gyamfi commended the President for his swift intervention in addressing the backlog of unpaid allowances. He emphasized that Mahama has consistently been concerned about delays in payments, even before assuming office.
Presidential Intervention Ensures Full Payment
Gyamfi highlighted the President’s proactive approach in tackling the issue, noting that Mahama took decisive action as soon as the figures were presented to him.
“We should be grateful to President John Mahama. Even before becoming President, he was vocal about the delays in service personnel payments. Considering that the service allowance is only ¢715, and inflation is a major concern, he saw the urgency in addressing this matter. Once we provided him with the necessary data, he ordered the full payment of all arrears,” Gyamfi stated.
The delayed payments, spanning from August to December, will be settled, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of service personnel who have faced financial difficulties due to the prolonged wait.
Addressing Systemic Issues and Corruption
Gyamfi attributed the recurring delays in payments to systemic inefficiencies and corruption, which have plagued the National Service scheme over the years.
“For the past eight years, we’ve struggled with deep-rooted corruption and incompetence in the system. It’s unacceptable that service personnel, who rely on their allowances, should experience such delays,” he lamented.
He assured that the current administration is committed to eliminating these inefficiencies to ensure a smoother and more reliable payment process.
Possible Allowance Increase in the Future?
When asked about the possibility of increasing the current allowance, Gyamfi hinted that discussions are ongoing.
“President Mahama understands the financial struggles of service personnel. He has already taken significant steps to curb corruption within the system. Now, I believe he is considering whether some of the recovered funds can be used to improve allowances,” he revealed.
The assurance of immediate payments has come as a huge relief for service personnel, many of whom have endured months of financial hardship. With the government's renewed focus on efficiency and anti-corruption measures, Gyamfi is optimistic that future payments will be more timely and reliable.
Source: Joy FM
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