The National Service Authority (NSA) has announced that eligible national service personnel who paid a GH¢41 registration fee under the old registration system should begin receiving their refunds by Monday or Tuesday.
The announcement was made by the NSA Deputy Director-General in charge of Programmes and Operations, Lt Col Moses Dok Nach Kpeungu.
According to him, the refund will not apply to everyone. Only personnel who paid the GH¢41 while attempting to register or successfully completed registration under the previous system will qualify.
«“The GHC41 that they said we promised them a refund, it is true. That GHC41 basically is for those who attempted to register or who were successfully registered in the old system,” he explained.»
Lt Col Kpeungu explained that the old national service registration system was shut down after concerns were raised about its credibility, including suspected ghost names on the system.
The NSA therefore had to introduce a new registration platform within a short period.
Before paying the refunds, the Authority had to check the old registration records to confirm who actually paid the GH¢41.
He said the NSA worked with the administrator of the previous system to carry out the audit.
«“We needed to also liaise with the administrator of the previous system to ensure that we conduct an audit and then those who actually paid for it are given the refund,” he said.»
The official said the audit was almost complete and that payments should start soon.
«“We are almost done with the audit, and I’m sure by Monday or Tuesday, they’ll get their monies.”»
Lt Col Kpeungu also addressed complaints about GH¢5 monthly insurance deductions from some national service personnel.
He denied claims that the NSA automatically enrolled personnel in insurance schemes without their consent.
According to him, insurance companies approached personnel at registration centres and offered them insurance products.
«“During the process of the registration, these insurance companies are also looking for clients so they move to the registration centres and they begin to engage them,” he said.»
He explained that personnel who completed and signed the insurance forms were considered to have subscribed to the service.
However, he acknowledged complaints from some personnel who said deductions continued even after they had cancelled their insurance subscriptions.
The NSA official also rejected claims that the GH¢50 charged at some validation centres was a printing fee.
He said the money was meant to cover administrative arrangements at the centres.
«“Nobody will say that you should pay 50 Ghana cedis for printing. How much is a sheet of paper?” he questioned.»
He added that the money was used to support arrangements such as canopies, chairs and water for personnel who arrived early and waited for their turn.
«“These are administrative costs. When you come to the registration centre, you need a canopy, you need chairs, you need water because some people come at 5am and sit there until maybe 12pm or 1pm.”»
Lt Col Kpeungu further spoke about the GH¢60 deduction connected to the Zeus Atlas capacity-building programme.
He explained that the arrangement was made by the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) and not directly by the NSA.
He said the NSA governing board ordered that the deductions be stopped and an investigation started after concerns were raised.
«“When the issue came up, the governing board of National Service instructed that we should cease deductions and then institute an investigation into the matter. We have started the investigation,” he said.»
He also said the Authority could not immediately promise a refund for money already deducted because the NSA was not the organisation that entered into the arrangement.
«“The authority is not the one that engaged them. It should be between NASPA and then the company,” he stated.»
The Deputy Director-General also responded to claims that national service personnel were owed two or three months of allowances.
He explained that the July allowance was paid in August, meaning that as of September, personnel were owed one month.
«“The July allowance was paid last month, which is August. So currently, in September, they are owed one month,” he said.»
Headded that the Authority still had to process the September allowance as well as other payments, including transport and travel-related claims, before personnel complete their service.
The NSA says it remains open to engaging national service personnel and addressing concerns surrounding registration fees, deductions, allowances and other issues.
For eligible personnel who paid the GH¢41 under the old registration system, the expected refund from Monday or Tuesday will be an important step towards resolving the issue.
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