KNUST Final-Year Students Urged to Embrace Opportunities Beyond Formal Sector

By Joylinda Laryea / June 17, 2025

The Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Mr. Felix Gyamfi, has called on final-year students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to adopt a mindset shift regarding life after graduation, emphasizing the need to embrace opportunities beyond the traditional public sector.

Speaking at the Pre-Service On-Campus Orientation Programme held today at the Great Hall of KNUST in Kumasi, Mr. Gyamfi addressed thousands of students preparing for their national service. He urged them to explore entrepreneurship, innovation, and non-traditional job placements, especially within the private sector.

“You are graduating at a time when the formal job market is shrinking,” he noted. “The reality is that not all of you will be absorbed into the public sector. What matters now is how well you position yourselves, how flexible you are, and your willingness to learn and grow in less familiar environments.”

He revealed that the NSA aims to post over 50% of service personnel into the private sector this year, citing higher chances of long-term employment. “Private sector placements often result in permanent jobs within two to three years,” he said, contrasting this with the often decade-long wait for public sector employment.

Mr. Gyamfi encouraged students to embrace postings in areas such as agribusiness, palm oil and cocoa processing, and even remote rural enterprises. “There is money in dry fish, fresh palm wine, and agro-processing ,if only you can see it,” he added, emphasizing innovation in traditional sectors as a key to economic sustainability.

Recounting his personal journey in business and construction, he praised the resourcefulness of Ghanaian graduates and called on religious bodies and private institutions to partner with the NSA to absorb and empower young talents.

In a lighter moment, he shared the story of a couple who met during service on an NSA farm and are now married with children, highlighting the social value and life-changing potential of the national service experience.

The KNUST Registrar, Mr. Andrews Kwasi Boateng, commended the NSA for preparing graduates for national development. “National service is not just a requirement. It’s an opportunity to contribute meaningfully while learning and growing,” he said.

Assistant Director for Deployment, Mr. Yaw Tweneboah Kodua, also briefed students on the online registration process, urging caution when entering details, especially GhanaCard numbers, to avoid delays. He announced the service charge of GHC40 via ADB or GHC41 via MTN MoMo and reassured students that support is available through the NSA help platform.

Mr. Kodua addressed concerns about the military module, clarifying that only 10,000 personnel would be selected for the pilot programme, with most students exempt.

The session concluded with applause from the students, many of whom left with a deeper understanding of the opportunities national service holds for their future.