I don’t owe SSNIT – Ibrahim Mahama

Engineers and Planners has claimed it had settled all its indebtedness to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) as of April 28, 2017.

The company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, brother of former President John Mahama, has been hauled to the court over its failure to pay SSNIT contributions of its workers. The company is said to have defaulted in contribution to the tune of GHC1 million, including penalties on the original amount.

But in a statement the company said even before it was hauled to court by SSNIT, it had paid in full all outstanding contributions of its staff.

“As at 28th April 2017, E&P had made a total payment of over GHc 2 million (GHc2,723,212.36) in full satisfaction of all outstanding arrears and penalties”.

The statement added that lawyers for the company had informed SSNIT that the amount had been paid before the court session was called.

Below are details of the statement

ENGINEERS & PLANNERS HAS SETTLED SSNIT CONTRIBUTIONS

• On 22nd December 2016, SSNIT entered into a negotiated agreement with Engineers and Planners as it does with all clients for the payment of arrears of social security contributions of GHc1,601,051.78.

• By the terms of the agreement, E&P were required to make 12 monthly instalments commencing February 2017 ending in January 2018.

• As at 28th April 2017, E&P had made a total payment of over GHc 2 million (GHc2,723,212.36) in full satisfaction of all outstanding arrears and penalties.

• JUST TWO DAYS DELAYED PAYMENT – On March 2 2017, SSNIT wrote to E&P to serve notice that it had abrogated the negotiated agreement due to the failure of the company to make the instalment payment for February 2017, as a result of two (2) days of delay in paying the first instalment.

• E&P informed SSNIT that it had made efforts to make the payments for February as agreed but for unexpected delays in their receivables on current contracts and convincingly committed to paying. A promise it has fulfilled.

• E&P further made a request for SSNIT to reconsider its decision to abrogate the negotiated agreement. SSNIT declined the request.

• Instead, on 13th April 2017, a summons was issued to E&P to appear before the District Court on 29th April 2017 to answer a complaint of failing to pay SSNIT contributions of GHc668,754.75 and penalty of GHc387,709.31 totalling GHC1,056,464.06.

• Once again it is worth noting that, E&P has paid over GHc 2 million (GHc2,723,212.36) in full satisfaction of all outstanding arrears and penalties.

• Counsel for Engineers and Planners has informed the court that the company has fully paid off the outstanding amounts due SSNIT.