SSNIT engages employers, focal persons to deepen social security concept

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has given the assurance that it will pursue client-friendly and open-door policies for the benefit of the Ghanaian worker and public in general.

"Our policies are always informed by the Trust's desire to satisfy the needs of our cherished clients, with innovative and convenient products," Mrs. Laurette Korkor Otchere, Deputy Director-General, Operations and Benefits, SSNIT, noted.

In pursuit of this mission, she said, the Trust for the first time, was distributing soft copies of annual statements of account to members through email and text messaging.

Mrs. Korkor Otchere, who was addressing a seminar for employers and focal persons in Kumasi, said the Management was anticipating a pension system where employers voluntarily complied in the payment of workers' contributions to avoid the payment of needless penalties.

The programme was tailored to strengthen relationships with employers, deepen understanding of the operations of the First Tier Scheme and also promote the culture of social security within organisations and communities.

The target group included; employers, representatives of corporate organisations, community representatives, the media, amongst others.

Mrs. Korkor Otchere pointed out that their objective was to empower the people to take control of their pension, while increasing awareness and knowledge on the SSNIT Scheme.

She lauded employers who paid their workers' contributions diligently and encouraged others to do same, adding that: "SSNIT takes no delight in taking an employer to court."

As of October, 2019, SSNIT had collected arrears in the amount of GHC 439.6 million from employers, out of which, GHC 208.9 million was through prosecution.

Commenting on the deactivation exercise and enrolment of pensioners aged 72 and above, she stated that the Trust saved an amount of GHC 62.9 million as of November 2019, having taken off 6, 268 names from the pension payroll.

The Trust pays over GHC 227 million monthly pension payroll obligation to pensioners.

Mr Alhassan A. Mahamadu, Kumasi Area Manager, SSNIT, urged the participants to be good ambassadors of the social security concept.