Members of the National Service Persons Association (NASPA) have issued a stern warning to its leadership and the National Service Secretariat (NSS) to stop the monthly insurance package for the personnel or face their wrath.
According to a statement by the National Service Persons of Ghana, the leadership of NASPA is collaborating with GLICO and MTN to roll out an insurance package where there will be a monthly deduction of GHC 15 from their allowance.
The group wants government to take actions to stop the leadership from carrying out their plan saying "we wish to alert the government, NSS, NASPA and all other stakeholders involved that this decision is against our fundamental human rights and freedom. We are all not in agreement over this move hence should be discouraged. It must not be allowed. You cannot sign us up for an insurance package by compulsion. Our opinions were also not sought for. The executives of NASPA cannot take such a decision which grossly affects our monies without consulting us".
"What would happen to our deductions at the end of the service year? Do they know our individual plans and whether or not we have already insured ourselves?" they further questioned.
"An insurance is supposed to be a means of protection from financial loss. It is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risks of a contingent, or uncertain losses. The loss may or may not be financial, but it must be reducible to financial terms, and must involve something in which the insured has an insurable interest established by ownership, possession, or preexisting relationship", portions of the statement read.
The service personnel described the package as a "daylight robbery", calling on the NSS and government to intervene or they file a law suit against the authorities.
"Inasmuch as we appreciate the efforts of NSS for trying to seek our welfare, we wish to state categorically that this particular package is a daylight robbery if the deductions are made compulsory hence should be discouraged immediately or we follow the appropriate procedures to challenge it in court. In principle, one would have to understand how an insurance package works before subscribing to it. Two of the most important components of all the insurance policies are the premium and the deductible. A firm understanding of these two concepts goes a long way to helping one in choosing a policy that is best for him or her. It is a risk which should not be made compulsory hence nobody should decide for us".
NASPA launched a National Service Insurance Policy on Wednesday, November 1, in collaboration with GLICO Life Insurance Company and MTN to deduct GHC 15 from the personnel's allowance every month.
The policy was broken down into the following packages:
1. In the event of death during service - 15,000 cedis.
2. In the event of Injury during service - 15,000 cedis.
3. In the event of disability during service - 3,000 cedis.
4. Loan given to service personnel's amounting to 500 cedis and will be paid by Personnel over a period of 6 months.
5. Free Inter-MTN calls.
6. 5 cedis airtime free to call other networks.
7. Free data.
8. 500 SMS every month.
9. Free movies twice in a month.
But the service personnel have appealed to authorities of the NSS, NASPA and the government to "make this insurance package optional. We know what is good for us so whether an individual decides to subscribe to this package or not, he or she would be prepared to bear the consequences. Do not compel us to subscribe or impose the deductions on us. How much is our monthly allowance before so much unnecessary deductions are going to be imposed on us? Earlier, we heard rumours that the NASPA executives are going to sanction deductions on the allowance to offset our dues.
"This is also against our fundamental freedom of association. We must not be compelled to do certain things against our interest just because the constitution demands that we render a mandatory service to the nation. As the constitution demands, we are serving the nation with our strengths and skills for which we are paid less. The Ghanaian government can equally raise a seed money to insure us without having to deduct from our meagre allowances" the statement signed by Cephas Akortor on behalf of all the Concerned National Service Persons of Ghana further stressed.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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The associations are the cause of all the corruption and bribery. So everyone wants to cheat his/her fellow. Then you must stop arresting armed robbers. Because you are all part.
The policy proposes to offer “… free inter MTN calls for service personnel each month. A recharge credit of GHS5 for calls to other networks. Free browsing on Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat, Jobberman website, GLICO website. A 500 free SMS each month, 100% bonus on all MTN recharge made by personnel and a free movie viewing twice a year at Silver Star Cinema(s).” There are so many parts of Ghana that do not have access to ordinary phone calls yet you talk about the internet. In districts like Atwima Mponua and Ahafo-Ano North and South in Ashanti (villages such as Barimayena, Akonkyi, Adupri and Apenimadi); Tain in Brong Ahafo (Pokukrom near Seikwa) and many other places, there is no coverage for simple phone calls. People climb trees to make calls, and you talk about internet. Why should personnel in these areas be made to pay? If it is not fraud and robbery, why would anyone think of this insurance? I understand that Glico has paid the executives to have this deal go through. I think is time young guys resort to the gun since diplomacy no longer works.
***barred word*** at it peak. what kind of ***barred word*** policy is this? has anybody asked somebody to insured him or her? is health insurance and other insurance compulsory? why should this one be compulsory. Nana this is not what we voted for you for.
T.H.I.E.V.E.S, you want to reap where you have not sown. small allowance for this young graduates has also become the target of these small boys politicians. Shame unto you all. Is it by force to register for Insurance.
Its high time leaders step in...we are not interested in this policy..who said we will fall sick during our term of service ..why not even insure us with SSNIT because even after service it is obligatory to be with SSNIT. The money is not even coming to our desk and you comfortably sited in their office deducting.. if they have spent or have plans of spending part of the service allowance then they shouldn't try use small smart tricks on us...We always preach peace day in day out but what won't suit you is what you want to do to suit someone..LET THINGS BE DONE IN THE RIGHT WAY.
Thumbs up for the NASPA executives, you guys are on point and the NSS sectariat should come again cos they can't impose this on service personnels. But you guys should also talk about the withholding of some personnels allowance cos those whose allowance have been withheld are crying and the secretariat should come out with a statement as to how far their investigations have gone.
Discuss and negotiate. Treat them as adult.
broad day robbery.
This imposition of the policy on us is so unnecessary. At least we should have a say in this. Who says we cannot buy call credits? Who in this modern fast growing communication technology needs that amount of SMS package? We vehemently reject this policy. The best we can accept is to make it optional
Is that how policy is been enact without doing due research? Why are Ghanaian leaders so power drunk without reasoning? I shock give Nana B, NASPA executive and the so call insurance Company leaders with this their LOOT AND SHARE POLICY to drain this poor service personnel allawa. NASPA have no use to service personnels and we shouldn't take it serious. They aren't serving our interest, it's theirs rather. This policy should have been communicated to us seeking our views but nothing of such transpired. Are NASPA executives telling us they weren't aware of such policy before the launch?? It's a LOOT and SHARE POLICY so it should be revised. OPTIONAL NOT MANDATORY!!!