A special Remembrance Day service has been held by the National Service Scheme in honour of service personnel who passed away in their line of duty since the inception of the Scheme.
The event which took place last Thursday involved a flag-raising ceremony, wreath laying and a Remembrance Day service at the headquarters of the Scheme in Accra.
Remembrance Day which is an annual event was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Scheme.
Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, a Deputy Minister of Education, praised the former and present leadership of the Scheme for its role towards the development of the nation’s economy.
He described the role played by the Scheme as very critical in the areas of agriculture, education, health, transportation and other essential sectors of the economy and called for more support for the Scheme to move on.
“The relevance of the Scheme is un-comparing and if there is any institution in the country that needs to be promoted, protected or enhanced, then it is the NSS, it should be strengthened to deliver its mandate”. He said.
The Deputy Minister said, “We are remembering the toil and sacrifices made by our forebearers who taught of the importance of establishing this scheme. Setting aside this day to remember our heroes is worth marking. They sacrificed their lives to serve this nation in notable ways”.
Again Rev. Ntim Fordjour stated “We are today hoisting the flag of this country together with a sense of patriotism recognizing what they have done, charting a path for us and it is time to do our best on the path charted. Although their names cannot be found on any wall, they are the men and women who sacrificed to serve this nation”.
The Executive Director of NSS, Mr. Osei Assibey Antwi, said the day was not only to remember their dedication and sacrifices but also to renew their commitment to the ideals for which they stood.
“We must remind ourselves that the work they began is far from finished and their legacy depends on us to carry it forward with renewed vigour and dedication”, he said.
He urged all national service personnel to re-dedicate themselves to service, unity and progress to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain.
He advised all to remember those who laid the foundation and acts and added that “it is by their work and feat that has a sustainable scheme; indeed they deserve to be remembered”.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Mr. Albert Dwumfour, pledged the support of the GJA towards all operations and activities of the Scheme.
He praised the Scheme for the pivotal role it has played over the years and urged them to continue showing more dedication towards the development of the country.
The Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Edward Boateng, also recounted how the NSS had played a pivotal role towards bridging the gap between academia and young graduates by instilling in them a sense of national duty and work.
He noted that the secretariat had not only been a launching platform for young graduates but a source of invaluable support for the numerous private and public organisations across the country.
END
