The National Director of the National Service Scheme has lamented how democracy in Ghana has been reduced to only elections. He says “we are spending billions of dollars just to make sure we have elections but not spending the same quantum of money to build strong institutions that work”.
He says not one individual can solve the problems of the nation and that the problems of this nation cannot be solved by any single politician. But politicians depend on state institutions and private partners to solve the nation’s challenges.
“Ask how much is spent on electoral reforms alone and then ask how much is spent on arresting communal violence”, he urged.
Mr. Vincent Kuagbenu, who was speaking at the commissioning of the pavement of the frontage of the National service secretariat as well as the National Service Personnel Association office, added that one of the ways to stop communal violence is to accept postings to places far away from home. He says as people accept postings away from their home region, they learn other people’s culture and some negative perceptions about those cultures are corrected.
The project was undertaken by the Na Achia Group of Companies in recognition of the National Service Scheme’s contribution to national development. The company which has existed for two decades has provided infrastructural support to several entities including churches, the police, fire service and other educational institutions.
The regional Director of the National Service Scheme, Mr. Kwesi Quainoo in an interview with Focus news also thanked Na Achia Group of companies for the help extended to them.
He said for some time now the secretariat has been working under stressful conditions, citing limited office space as one of the main problems of the secretariat adding that the intervention by the Na Achia Group is a very timely one. He enjoined other private entities to come to their aid to enable the scheme florish.

-Bernard Buachi,
Focus FM, Kumasi.