The Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gyamfi Felix, has assured Ghanaians of the Authority’s commitment to spearheading initiatives that will promote food security under his leadership, thereby addressing food inflation and unemployment challenges in Ghana.

He said this during a media interview today after the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, upon assuming office, paid his first-ever working visit to the National Service Authority (NSA) headquarters in Accra to engage in discussions aimed at enhancing greater opportunities for the youth through national service.

Mr. Gyamfi emphasised that with the current challenges posed by rising food prices and Ghana’s reliance on imports, the NSA was strategically positioned to leverage its extensive agricultural resources.

The Authority’s large t racts of arable land, he explained, could be utilised to create sustainable solutions to the twin challenges of food insecurity and unemployment.

“We cannot overlook the opportunity we have as an institution with vast arable lands at our disposal. The NSA’s contribution to agriculture will not only reduce our dependency on food imports but also tackle unemployment, especially among the youth. This is a vision we are keen on pursuing to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s economic recovery,” he said.

He said there was more to be done at the Authority and revealed plans to reassess and expand the Authority’s agricultural activities to achieve measurable outcomes.

“It is important to acknowledge the groundwork laid by those before us. Our approach will be to evaluate and continue successful initiatives while identifying areas where expansion or improvement is needed to ensure that the desired impact is realised by all stakeholders,” he stated.

Mr. Gyamfi specifically decried the issue of “ghost names” under the former administration, noting that it had undoubtedly caused significant damage to the Authority’s reputation. He indicated his resolve to clamp down on such incidents under his watch, ensuring that the NSA continues to achieve significant progress in mobilising, deploying, and training the youth from tertiary institutions during their mandatory one-year national service.

For his part, Mr. Opare Addo stated that the visit formed broader efforts to collaborate with one of the key agencies like NSA to address challenges faced by the Ghanaian youth and identify potential avenues for empowerment.

He stressed the critical role of the National Service Authority in building the capacity of the youth and preparing them for the job market. He assured that his ministry will closely collaborate with the Authority to create a supportive framework for service personnel to ensure meaningful contributions to national development.

“We must position the National Service Authority as a foundation for skills development and entrepreneurship to give young people a viable start after their service year. I will continue to champion the interests of Ghana’s youth to fulfil the promises of President John Mahama,” he stated.

He added that President Mahama’s government focus on youth policies and empowerment programmes will be met under his leadership because the youth are the country’s greatest asset, and efforts must be made to protect them, invest in them, and give them a helping hand if Ghana is to realise a better future.