The National Service Secretariat (NSS) has appointed a service person as its new Acting Public Relations Officer in contravention of the service’s own rules. The new PRO, Mr. Dziedzorm K. Segbefia who completed the Ghana Institute of Journalism was posted to the Information Services Department (ISD), Tepa branch in the Ashanti Region. A copy of his posting accessed on the website of the NSS by Asempa News proved that Mr. Dziedzorm Segbefia enrolled for service in the year 2009. The national service rules state that no Ghanaian is entitled to full-time employment unless he/she has proof of having undertaken the mandatory national service. But this rule has been circumvented by the service itself in the case of Mr Segbefia. His appointment letter, dated October 26, 2009 with reference number NSS 17/T.J and signed by the Executive Director Mr. Vincent Senam Kuagbenu, said his appointment was with immediate effect. The Public Relations Officer for the NSS, Mr. Ferdinand Richard Obeng has consequently been directed to hand over to the acting PRO and report to the Head of Human Resource Department for reassignment. When Asempa News drew the attention of the Board Chairman of the NSS, Mr. Nkunu Akyea to the development, he said the matter has not come to his attention. Mr Akyea added that he did not know the nitty-gritty of the day-to-day administration of the Service Secretariat. When Asempa News spoke to the Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Mr. Vincent Senam Kuabgenu on why the NSS would employ an individual who is yet to do his national service as an acting PRO, he declined to comment but indicated that under the Public Services Act, civil servants are under oath not to disclose to the media management decisions. The National Service Secretariat has been in the news lately following the mass resignation of the entire staff of the accounts department who accused the Executive Director of being arrogant, abusive, and rude. Currently the accounts staff that resigned has been replaced by personnel from the Controller and Accountant Generals Department pending an investigation instituted by the Board of Governors of the National Service into the allegations against Mr. Kuagbenu. Story by Kojo Asare-Baffour Acheampong/Asempa 94.7fm/Ghana