A lecturer at Pentecost University, Dr. Christopher Ampadu says maintaining the compulsory nature of the National Service Scheme will be more beneficial to the youth.

This according to him is because the exercise has become a source of employment and learning ground for some people while teaching the youth to be patriotic.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews’, Mr. Ampadu expressed his belief that national service should not be optional.

“When we did National Service, it was public service and it was some kind of experience that I think I enjoyed because it gave me an opportunity to work with a chairman and to know his source and ways of serving the nation. For me it was very dedicational,” he added.

His comment follows a proposal by Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), to make national service optional for graduates when voted as President in the general elections.

At his public lecture on Wednesday where he spoke about his vision for the country, Dr. Bawumia indicated that his government "will propose that those who after completion of their education can secure jobs would be exempted from National Service".

"National Service will no longer be mandatory and students will have the option to decide whether to do National Service. This will also encourage companies to go to campuses for recruitment annually," he added. 

But touching on this, Mr. Ampadu said companies are now seeking to employ people with experiences.

He stressed that if Dr. Bawumia makes it optional, it could lead to an increase in youth unemployment since job creation remains a challenge.

"If we don’t make it mandatory, some people will have jobs, while others may be unemployed. Why don’t you put them through national service, because it helps them to be patriotic,” he said.