Sunyani, Jan. 15, GNA – Mr William Ohene-Adjei, the Bono Regional Manager of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has advised petty traders and market women to take advantage of the third Tier pension scheme for a secured future.
He explained that anybody aged 15 and above qualified to join the pension scheme, saying the new Pension Acts allowed prospective contributors to contribute any amount based on their financial strength, which would include a lump sum from the savings account.
Mr Ohene-Adjei gave the advice when speaking at the opening session of the annual conference of the Christian Mothers Association of the Sunyani Catholic Diocese in Sunyani.
He indicated about 85 percent of the working population in Ghana were informal sector workers, but regretted only four percent of them had registered for pension schemes
“Everybody has the right to join a pension scheme. It is only the Tier one and Tier two pensions which are mandatory. Even people aged 60 years and above can register and benefit from the third Tier”.
“So, as Christian mothers, traders, and market women, we must take advantage of the third Tier and register, contribute and enjoy the pension benefit for a better and brighter future”, Mr Ohene-Adjei stated.
Mr Samuel Baffour Awuah, the Corporate Affairs Officer, NPRA in a presentation said it was untrue that pension schemes were only designed for, and targeted only salaried or government workers, saying though the third tier pension scheme remained voluntary, it was imperative for everybody, particularly those in the informal sector to register.
“One can contribute any amount on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis depending on one’s financial strength and capability”, he explained.
GNA