10 National Service personnel on hunger strike?

Some members of the Graduates Initiative Africa (GIA), a civil society group, claim they have started a hunger strike, to compel the National Service Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), to deduct the financial contributions of its members, who are service personnel, at source.

The group set up a “Graduates Fund” the GIA Fund, which it uses to support members who set up their own businesses. The objective is to reduce graduate unemployment and promote entrepreneurship among unemployed graduates.

When they gathered at the MOE at about 9.30 a.m. yesterday to present a petition, the group, numbering 10, had hung around their necks, placards with the inscription: “On hunger Strike till we see a change,” 

Request

Last year, the GIA submitted a request to the NSC to facilitate the deduction of  the dues of its national service members at source. According to the founder of the GIA, Mr Malcolm Asamoah, the NSC rejected the application on the grounds that such a request was against its auditing regulations.

“I am ready to go on this hunger strike for as long as possible until the right thing is done. A life is at stake here and this shows that we are prepared to protect the interest of the youth”, he added.

Education Ministry

When contacted,  Mr Paul Krampa, the Director of Public Relations at MoE, said upon the receipt of the group’s petition, an official of the ministry was tasked to assess the request and added that the ministry had written to the NSC to reconsider its decision,

Mr Krampah also said implementation of  the request was difficult and, therefore, advised the group to consider other options for paying their 

dues.