Ghana News – Exclusive: I thought I was exempt from national service

Gender and Social Protection Minister designate, Otiko Afisa Djaba has penned down an epistle to the Parliament of Ghana to offer further explanations on her response to certain questions posed at her during her vetting in the house.

The letter which is addressed to the chairman of the Appointments Committee of Parliament, ‘to clarify responses I gave in answer to a question posed to me about my national service during my appearance at the Appointments Committee, as part of the vetting processes to assume the office of Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection’.

“I wish to explain further that I did not undertake National Service upon completion of a course of study at the University of Development Studies (UDS), Wa Campus, in 2009, because I was informed that persons who were over forty (40) years of age were exempt from national service,” she stated in the letter.

Otiko’s failure to do her national service has become an issue before Parliament which postponed her approval to tomorrow, 7th February, 2017

Below is the full letter:

P.O. Box CT8799

Cantonments

Accra

2^nd February, 2017

The Chairman

Appointments Committee

Parliament of Ghana

Parliament House

ACCRA

Dear Sir,

FURTHER EXPLANATION ON NON-PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME

I am writing to clarify responses I gave in answer to a question posed to me about my national service during my appearance at the Appointments Committee, as part of the vetting processes to assume the office of Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

I wish to explain further that I did not undertake National Service upon completion of a course of study at the University of Development Studies (UDS), Wa Campus, in 2009, because I was informed that persons who were over forty (40) years of age were exempt from national service.

I completed UDS in 2009 at the age of 47, and consequently, was under the impression that I was exempt from national service.

As a Ghanaian patriot, who has worked in the most inhospitable parts of Ghana like the Sissala District for over six years, and provided various services to my nation in many other fields of endeavour, it would be inconceivable that I would deliberately abstain serving my nation.

I hope that this explanation would inform your decision in respect of my non-participation in the National Service Scheme upon completion of UDS in 2009.

Yours faithfully,

Otiko Djaba

Minister-Designate, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection