The Concerned National Service Personnel Association has issued a two-week ultimatum to the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) to refund the GH¢60 deducted from the allowances of national service personnel across the country.
The group says NASPA’s decision to suspend the deduction does not resolve the concerns raised by service personnel, particularly issues surrounding accountability, transparency and the refund of monies already collected.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, President of the Concerned National Service Personnel Association, Samuel Ye-largi, called on NASPA to immediately return the GH¢60 deducted from personnel and disclose the total amount collected nationwide.
He also demanded a detailed financial account showing how the funds collected through the deductions have been managed or spent.
According to the association, suspending future deductions is only one part of the issue, as personnel are also seeking answers about funds that have already been taken from their allowances.
The group has also raised concerns about a separate compulsory GH¢100 deduction for the purchase of NASPA cloth.
It questioned the legal basis for the deduction and argued that the fact that the practice has been in existence for several years does not automatically make it lawful, transparent or acceptable.
The association is demanding that NASPA explain whether national service personnel were consulted before the GH¢100 deduction was introduced and provide details of the procurement process used to select suppliers.
It is also seeking information on the total value of the contract, the reasons for any change in the original supplier and whether NASPA is prepared to make the contract and other relevant procurement documents available to the public.
The Concerned National Service Personnel Association insists that greater transparency is necessary to assure service personnel that deductions from their allowances are properly authorised and managed.
Mr Ye-largi said the association would not consider the matter resolved unless NASPA refunds the monies already deducted and provides satisfactory answers to the questions raised.
“What we are demanding here is the refund of the 100 cedis which was deducted from our allowance to cater for cloth, and we are calling on the NASPA to immediately refund the 60 cedis that they deducted from the poor NSS person,” he said.
The group has warned that if NASPA fails to refund the deductions and provide the requested information within the two-week deadline, it will pursue further action.
The ultimatum puts renewed pressure on NASPA to address concerns over deductions from national service allowances and provide clarity on the financial and procurement arrangements surrounding the charges.
