The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has threatened to embark on industrial action in two weeks, if issues surrounding the three- tiers pension scheme are not resolved for its implementation come early 2020.
At a news conference held in Accra on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, on the proposed extension of the implementation period for the three-tier Pension National Pensions Act, 20008 (Act 766) as amended, the Association’s National Executive Council, (NEC), accused the Ghana Trades Union Congress and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) of attempting to derail the implementation of the three-tier pension scheme which is scheduled to take off on January 1, 2020.
According to the Executive Secretary of the Association, Isaac Bampoe Addo, “this position of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is at variance with the directives of the President”.
He mentioned that. “in his 2019 May Day Address, the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated: “I acknowledge that there are unresolved issues with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNI T ) and the NPRA. I have asked the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations to liaise with SSNIT and NPRA to bring finality to all outstanding issues in the next three (3) months”
He stated three important points as the facts, as enumerated below:
i. The National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) was promulgated in 2008, it was intended to Operational on January 1, 2009.
ii. The implementation commenced January 1, 2010. It was to be applicable to those who were below 55 years as at January 1, 2010.
iii. In December, 2014 by the National Pensions (Amendment) Act 2014 (Act 883), the National Pension Act, 2014 (Act 883), therefore, extended the applicable period by five years so that all technical and operational challenges would be resolved.
CLOGSAG maintained that, ”computation of the past credits being held by SSNIT that should appear on individual statement should be based on the individuals contribution plus interest calculated using 100% Treasury Bill Rate compounded quarterly from the date of employment.
Data on the contribution of individuals to the TPFA and Interest accrued at 100% Treasury Bill should be made available to the schemes immediately”.
They however, served notice that “if within two (2) weeks the issues raised are not adequately resolved, it would be compelled to embark on a nationwide strike to back its demands”.
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah
