By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust, SSNIT, has launched its Mobile Service week in Tamale with a call on workers particularly in the informal sector to endeavour to register onto the scheme.
Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang at the launch said in spite of the commentary about perceived low pensions, no pensioner has discredited the relevance or benefits of SSNIT pensions in their lives.
It is expected that every worker in Ghana after an active working life will retire in dignity and enjoy a reliable pension system. Unfortunately, most people who are self-employed are not able to retire and rest because they do not belong to the structured social security scheme.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, only 3% of workers in the informal sector belong to any structured social security scheme. This paints a very gloomy picture of the future of these workers.
The theme for this year’s Social Security & National Insurance Trust, SSNIT Mobile Service (SMS) is “Retirement Security for the Self –Employed: Join SSNIT Today as a Voluntary Contributor”. It was attended by workers in the formal and informal sectors including hairdressers, seamstresses, tailors, drivers, and mechanics. Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofosu-Tenkorang advised workers to take keen interest in their pensions and retirement plans.
” A carpenter, dressmakers etc. take note, one day you would become old, the people you live behind could mismanage your business. Ensure your life today though pensions. Ensure your life to enjoy retirement. Payment of pensions are not only for those in the informal sector,” Mr, Ofosu -Tenkorang explained.
He encouraged workers in the informal sector to take advantage of the Mobile Service Week to register to join the Scheme.
”We are set up across the country, you can walk to any of our offices across the country with a valid Id card, preferably, the National ID. You can pay any amount and it must not be less than GHS 46 a month”, according to Mr Ofosu -Tenkorang.
Meanwhile, SSNIT is appealing to pensioners who are 72 years and above to renew their pensioner’s certificate as it has set 31st August 2021, as the deadline. SSNIT intends to withhold benefits of pensioners who fail to meet the deadline. This measure is to ensure that there are no leakages in the payment of pensions.
