Kwesi Nyantakyi in trouble for failing to pay players’ SSNIT contribution

Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantakyi has landed in hot waters and could face a jail term after refusing to enroll Wa All Stars players with Ghana’s Social Security and National Insurance Trust.

He could be jailed or suffer financial sanctions.

The CAF First Vice President is facing prosecution for failing to pay the social security of players and staff of Wa All Stars.

He is set to be served and hauled before a district court in Wa – the regional capital town of the Upper West region, where his club Wa All Stars is based.

All 16 clubs, playing in Ghana’s top-flight league, have registered with SSNIT and regularly pay players' monthly contributions except Wa All Stars.

Karela United FC and Techiman XI Wonders have taken steps to enrol on the scheme.

The Wa District Court has issued summons to haul Nyantakyi into the box.

Ghana Sports Online checks have confirmed SSNIT officials are furious with the stubbornness shown by the Ghana FA President with regards to registering and paying of SSNIT contribution for players and officials of Wa All Stars.

SSNIT officials moved in a delegation to educate Nyantakyi’s club on the importance of enrolling their players and other employees on the scheme before sending them reminders weeks after.

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is a statutory public Trust charged under the National Pensions Act 2008 Act 766 with the administration of Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Pension Scheme and to cater for the First Tier of the contributory three-tier scheme. The Trust is currently the largest non-bank financial institution in the country.

SSNIT referred the matter to the Wa District Court and the court has duly issued a writ of summons.

Our checks also confirmed that Nyantakyi has not been available to be served by the court.

BACKGROUND – NYANTAKYI AND COURT CASES

The CAF First Vice President has a track record of fighting journalists in court in the name of image redemption.

Nyantakyi is currently in court seeking a $2 million damages claim against popular sports broadcaster Countryman Songo. Last month he told Accra-based Neat FM that MultiMedia should sack the journalist and suggested he is a liability to the company which owns and runs Joy FM, Joy Prime, Joy TV, Asempa FM, Adom FM, Adom TV and Hitz FM.

Nyantakyi also ignited a court case against journalist Kofi Asare Brake.

POSSIBLE RAMIFICATIONS

In 2013 popular politician and former flagbearer of CPP in Ghana, George Aggudey, was jailed for 3 months for failing to pay the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions of workers of his company, Gocrest Security Company.

The three-termed Ghana FA President could also face financial sanctions from the court.