SSNIT holds stakeholder meeting in Takoradi to expand coverage of the Scheme
The Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, has revealed that it has become necessary to extend coverage of it Basic National Social Security Scheme to self-employed workers to ensure that every worker in Ghana enjoys social protection.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Takoradi under the theme “ Extending pension coverage to the self-employed and informal sector workers “ Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang disclosed that this is to help reduce poverty and over-dependence on family relations and friends during old age.
According to him, Out of an estimated workforce of 11.5 million, 1.7 million + are active SSNIT contributors attributing to the nature of the economy of the country, where most people are engaged in their businesses and do not see the need to enroll in a structured social security scheme.
The SSNIT Scheme gives benefits when it comes to pensions and is something that people in the informal sector should take advantage of “
In his presentation, he indicated that the SSNIT Scheme pays Old Age Pension, Invalidity Pension, Survivors’ Lump sum, and Emigration benefit.
He also explained that the SSNIT pension gives superior value to invested Members’ contributions. The SSNIT Scheme pays minimum pension by subsidizing pensions for pensioners whose salaries were woefully low when they were in active service or contributors who contributed on a minimal salary to the Scheme. According to him, the SSNIT scheme is open to all workers, both in the formal and informal sectors.
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“The benefits employees of organizations enjoy when they qualify are not different from what is paid to the self-employed Members of the Scheme”.He added that “the Trust pays you till you pass on and the Scheme provides a life policy as well”.
This, he said will help reduce poverty and over-dependence on family relations and friends during old age or in the event of invalidity. For Members who can no longer work due to accidents or illness, the Scheme pays them an Invalidity Pension regardless of age and with only 12 months of contributions within the last three years before the person becomes invalid.
However, some beneficiaries expressed their utmost appreciation to Ssnit for such an initiative and vowed to carry the message to other people to sign onto the SSNIT Scheme.
The Stakeholders Meeting saw in attendance some representatives from Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Ghana Union of Traders’ Association (GUTA), Takoradi Market Women Association, Hairdressers Association, Fishermen and women among others.
In March 2022, the Trust paid a total of GH¢274.66 million to some 227,128 pensioners. The highest pension earner receives GH¢142,564.97 per month, while the lowest-earning pensioner gets GH¢300.00.
