¢15 deductions for NSS insurance 'create, loot and share'- Angry beneficiary

National Service Personnel are increasingly becoming displeased over a mandatory insurance policy launched by the National Service Secretariat which deducts ¢15 from each of the over 91,000 personnel posted this year.

One service personnel described the deductions as nothing but a 'create, loot and share' scheme, comparing it to a judge's description of illegal payment of about ¢51.2million to an NDC financier Alfred Woyome.

The service personnel are unhappy because they claim they were not consulted before arriving at this decision.

Under the policy, the monthly deductions from the ¢559 monthly allowance will mean, each personnel would have paid ¢135 by the end of 9-months service period.

It works out as ¢12,402,585 paid to insurance company, Glico.

Photo: Management of the National Service Scheme

The insurance package which takes retrospective effect from September 1 this year, will make GH¢3,000 available to service persons who suffer accidents that will keep them off their duties at user agencies for a month.

 Those who suffer permanent or temporary disability through accidents during the service year will also be entitled to GH¢15,000 insurance cover.

In addition, the next of kin of service persons who die while undertaking the mandatory national exercise will receive the same amount from Glico Life.

There will also be free inter MTN calls for service personnel each month. A recharge credit of GHS5 for calls to other networks. Free browsing on Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat, Jobberman website, GLICO website. A 500 free SMS each month, 100% bonus on all MTN recharge made by personnel and a free movie viewing twice a year at Silver Star Cinema(s).

But some service personnel are demanding the immediate reversal of the policy.

A group, National Service Personnel Movement against Insurance Policy have expressed displeasure at the policy, accusing  the Scheme managers of plotting to do business with their "already meager" allowances.

"¢5 credit?  Free whatsapp, Facebook really? It is a day light robbery" a woman told Joy News Wednesday disdaining a benefit of the policy available to service personnel who are also MTN subscribers.

Another wondered what happens to personnel who are not on MTN and would therefore not benefit fully .

A young man branded the insurance policy as a misplaced priority and tasked the scheme managers to concern themselves with pressing issues like accommodation for those posted to deprived areas.

"How many people die during national service anyway?" he said, adding " if nothing happens then they will spend it".

 "What even annoys me on top of everything it is for them to tell us that it is mandatory."

Reaction to the group's concerns, the PRO of the National Service Secretariat Ambrose Entsiwaa insisted the policy is not an imposition from the NSS.

He explained, National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) at a Congress took the decision to push for an insurance cover for all service personnel. Management is only facilitating their desires, he noted.

He said the MTN package is to encourage them to join the network to enjoy the package.

Listen to reactions from NSS personnel

 

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