Tema, (Greater Accra) 18 May, '98
A research fellow at the Arkansas State university in the United States has suggested that the SSNIT should allow Ghanaians overseas to make monthly contributions to its pension scheme in foreign exchange.
"Many Ghanaians working outside have their retirement benefits alright; however, a lot of them will be interested to have pension benefits back home and SSNIT can work out a system to attract such foreign capital," he said.
Dr. Benchie Darkwa, the research fellow, speaking to the GRi in Tema on some national issues, emphasised that SSNIT should open their retirement system to citizens outside as another way of attracting foreign capital which Ghana needs to develop.
Those of us outside the country will eventually come back home, he said, so we should start a vigorous campaign to educate Ghanaians abroad that it is in their interest to have such retirement system back home.
Dr. Darkwa said that two years ago, when he made such contacts with some officials of SSNIT in Accra to pay dollars monthly towards his retirement benefit, "I was greeted with go and come later, and after many checks I became frustrated."
He said there are about 330,000 Ghanaians in the United States alone and we should find ways and means of pushing Ghana in front of those who have left for greener pastrues."
Dr Darkwa called on Ghana's embassies abroad to keep track of all Ghanaian nationals in their areas of operation, adding "we have to design a system to make such people become aware of what is happening at home."
He suggested the publication of a newsletter by the embassies which could be put on the internet so that those outside could easily get some of the much needed information about Ghana. GRi
