SSNIT sacks hijabbed national service personnel

MUYAD Social Service, an Islamic Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has petitioned the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) over complaints it received about an alleged incident in which a national service personnel was turned away because of her hijab.

The victim, Rabiatu Mohammed, explained that she reported on 1 September 2019 to the Tarkwa branch of SSNIT where she had been posted to do her national service but was asked by the HR Manager to remove her hijab upon arrival or pursue her national service elsewhere.

The petition, dated 16 September 2019 and signed by the Executive Director, Adnan Adams Mohammed, said: “According to one of the affected national service persons, Miss Rabiatu Mohammed, she was denied the opportunity to undertake her mandatory national service because she was requested by your officials to choose between undertaking her national service at SSNIT without her hijab or undertaking her national service elsewhere if she insists on wearing her hijab.

“We see this act as an affront to Article 21(1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which allows every citizen to observe and manifest their religion in the country. We do not want to believe that SSNIT bans all forms of religious expressions, including prayer at management and board meetings at its offices”.

The NGO is, therefore, calling on the hierarchy at SSNIT to put in measures to prevent any discriminatory acts, especially against Muslims.

Below is the petition: