National Service postings to rural areas is an advantage— NASPA President

National service persons have been urged to not see postings to rural areas as punishment but rather as an opportunity to gain experience.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Ashanti Regional President of the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA), Prince Owusu Attah, said service persons who were posted to the rural areas got exposed to a new environment and got the opportunity of learning local languages of the people in their respective areas.

Besides, he said, they would spend less on accommodation and food compared to what their colleagues posted to regional and district capitals would expend.

Mr Owusu Attah said rural areas were “better places” for service persons to start businesses of their own and invest in agricultural projects .
He added that unlike cities and towns where people did not get the opportunity to know everybody, it was easy to identify with everybody in a rural area.

“This affords the service person the opportunity to build better relationships with the local people to a greater advantage of owning a portion of land for farming either free of charge or at an affordable price”, he said.

Mr Owusu Attah explained that the core business for national service was to create an avenue for fresh graduates to demonstrate patriotism and volunteerism in the service of the country.

He asked the national service persons to compose themselves in a manner to enhance the image of the National Service Scheme.