Kumasi, Sept 16, GNA - The Government has increased the allowance for National Service personnel by about nine per cent. This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Boniface A. Gambila and copied to all the appropriate agencies, ministries and departments. The letter said the new salary levels takes effect from July 1, 2004 and asked all service personnel on study leave who were on salary to contact their various establishments for their new salary scales.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Wednesday, Mr Kwesi Quainoo, Ashanti Regional Director of the Scheme, said the National Service Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, had trained service personnel who were planners, accounts officers, secretaries and engineers to work at the newly created districts.

He asked all prospective service personnel to accept postings to the rural areas and also consider national service as a challenge and an opportunity to serve their nation. 16 Sept 04