Proprietor fined for withholding SSNIT contributions

Tema, June 10,GNA- The Tema Circuit Court "A", has imposed a fine of eight million cedis on the Proprietor of Loveland Academy at Ashaiman, near Tema, for withholding 10.17 million cedis from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

In default, Raphael Kofi Alorka, who pleaded guilty for failure to pay SSNIT contributions of his employees, would face three years imprisonment. The Court presided over by Mr Charles Asiedu, ordered that an outstanding amount of 6.9 million cedis should also be paid to the SSNIT.

Prosecuting, Mr Sam Owusu-Anim, SSNIT Area Prosecutor, told the Court that between June 1998 and May 2003, the accused, defaulted in paying accumulated contributions and penalty levied on the sum to the SSNIT. He explained that, the actual contributions amounted to 5.6 million cedis and 4.6 million cedis for the cumulative penalties for the period. Mr Owusu-Anim said all attempts to retrieve the money had failed.