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The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has
held its 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in the Brong Ahafo
Regional capital Sunyani, under the theme: “Consolidating the gains of 50 years
of Social Security in Ghana
–The Role of Stakeholders.”
held its 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference in the Brong Ahafo
Regional capital Sunyani, under the theme: “Consolidating the gains of 50 years
of Social Security in Ghana
–The Role of Stakeholders.”
Director General of SSNIT, Mr. Ernest Thompson addressing
the ceremony said Currently, SSNIT is the largest public non-bank financial
institution in Ghana,
and in terms of its impact on its beneficiaries, Social Security has
significantly reduced poverty among the elderly who rely on Social either
directly or indirectly.
the ceremony said Currently, SSNIT is the largest public non-bank financial
institution in Ghana,
and in terms of its impact on its beneficiaries, Social Security has
significantly reduced poverty among the elderly who rely on Social either
directly or indirectly.
He said SSNIT has penetrated the entire fabric of the
country’s development, through its spectrum of investment in Manufacturing,
Housing Development, Commercial Properties, Educational facilities, the
Student’s Loan, Energy Sector, Industrial Estates, Hospitality, Transportation,
Health Centers, Specialist/Mother and Child, Hospitals, Multi-storey Car Parks,
Abattoirs and Markets.
country’s development, through its spectrum of investment in Manufacturing,
Housing Development, Commercial Properties, Educational facilities, the
Student’s Loan, Energy Sector, Industrial Estates, Hospitality, Transportation,
Health Centers, Specialist/Mother and Child, Hospitals, Multi-storey Car Parks,
Abattoirs and Markets.
“Arguably, there are two things that stand out about
SSNIT-the SSNIT brand and our network. From a department jointly supervised
under SIC and the Department of Pensions in the Ministries, SSNIT now has 50
Branches, 8 Area Offices and a workforce of over 2,000. It is also the
custodian of 150 pensioners, whose number keeps increasing over a thousand a
month, 1.2 million active workers and 40,000 employers. SSNIT is not in the
business of hand-wringing or pessimism. We believe in our brand and act
accordingly. SSNIT will pursue its aim of ensuring the future of workers in Ghana
basic retirement security.”
SSNIT-the SSNIT brand and our network. From a department jointly supervised
under SIC and the Department of Pensions in the Ministries, SSNIT now has 50
Branches, 8 Area Offices and a workforce of over 2,000. It is also the
custodian of 150 pensioners, whose number keeps increasing over a thousand a
month, 1.2 million active workers and 40,000 employers. SSNIT is not in the
business of hand-wringing or pessimism. We believe in our brand and act
accordingly. SSNIT will pursue its aim of ensuring the future of workers in Ghana
basic retirement security.”
“Demographic data indicates that the proportion of the
elderly as a component of national population is increasing rapidly. That is,
the world is experiencing a revolution in longevity and the most serious
consequences of the ageing population are yet to be experienced by developing
countries like Ghana.
When we commenced the pension scheme in 1991 the number of pensioners on our
payroll was 971. as at the end of 2014,
there were over 140,000 pensioners whose monthly pension payment was about GHC
60 million. This state of affairs would present many challenges to society and
government if appropriate policy options, mechanisms and measures are not put
in place today.”
elderly as a component of national population is increasing rapidly. That is,
the world is experiencing a revolution in longevity and the most serious
consequences of the ageing population are yet to be experienced by developing
countries like Ghana.
When we commenced the pension scheme in 1991 the number of pensioners on our
payroll was 971. as at the end of 2014,
there were over 140,000 pensioners whose monthly pension payment was about GHC
60 million. This state of affairs would present many challenges to society and
government if appropriate policy options, mechanisms and measures are not put
in place today.”
He added that, Pension is a means by which society and
government try to smoothen incomes of pensioners for them to be able to
maintain decent living standards during the years after pension.
government try to smoothen incomes of pensioners for them to be able to
maintain decent living standards during the years after pension.
Mr. Ernest Thompson stated that there is the need to
inculcate the spirit of Social Security in the youth of this country from their
infancy and in their educational curriculum. “These are the future leaders and
they must know their rights. That is, every worker needs social security.
Therefore, Social Security is a right for every worker in this country. In
order to consolidate the achievement of the turbulent half a century journey to
benefit all of us.”
inculcate the spirit of Social Security in the youth of this country from their
infancy and in their educational curriculum. “These are the future leaders and
they must know their rights. That is, every worker needs social security.
Therefore, Social Security is a right for every worker in this country. In
order to consolidate the achievement of the turbulent half a century journey to
benefit all of us.”
He also called on all stakeholders to get involved and put
their shoulder to plough.
their shoulder to plough.
“Government, Labour, Employers, Workers and Regulator-NPRA
must play their statutory roles. The worker must be interested in social
security. As part of SSNIT’s sensitization program, public education has
already been on its agenda. And SSNIT will continue to do that as part of its
‘Stakeholder role’.”
must play their statutory roles. The worker must be interested in social
security. As part of SSNIT’s sensitization program, public education has
already been on its agenda. And SSNIT will continue to do that as part of its
‘Stakeholder role’.”
Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Opoku said it is a
collective responsibility of all citizens to secure the future of their
workforce.
collective responsibility of all citizens to secure the future of their
workforce.
“The comfort of pensioners’ impacts positively on the psyche
of workers who are still in active service because it motivates them to
selflessly give off their best towards the development of the nation.”
of workers who are still in active service because it motivates them to
selflessly give off their best towards the development of the nation.”
According to him, SSNIT in its 50 years of operations has
exhibited a very high sense of professionalism by ensuring the progressive
introduction of fast and reliable systems for pensioners to access their
claims, “However, in view of the ever changing pace of global technology, the
Trust needs to devise very enduring and secure systems to improve upon its
operations.”
exhibited a very high sense of professionalism by ensuring the progressive
introduction of fast and reliable systems for pensioners to access their
claims, “However, in view of the ever changing pace of global technology, the
Trust needs to devise very enduring and secure systems to improve upon its
operations.”
“I wish to reiterate that the government appreciates the
important role SSNIT plays in the socio-economic development of the country.
Indeed, we recognize and appreciate the strategic importance of SSNIT as a
driving force with the potential to mobilize resources towards the total
expansion of the economy which would lead to increase in tax revenue for the
state, the creation of more jobs, a higher GPD, increase in per capita income
and above all, an improvement in the standard of living of our people.”
important role SSNIT plays in the socio-economic development of the country.
Indeed, we recognize and appreciate the strategic importance of SSNIT as a
driving force with the potential to mobilize resources towards the total
expansion of the economy which would lead to increase in tax revenue for the
state, the creation of more jobs, a higher GPD, increase in per capita income
and above all, an improvement in the standard of living of our people.”
Compiled By: Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku
