By Benjamin Akoto
Sunyani, Oct. 23, GNA – Nana Ansu Gyeabour, Krontihene of Nasana, in the Tain District of the Bono Region, has appealed to the management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to reconsider the age limit, which denied people from joining and contributing to the scheme after age 45.
He said amendment and reviewing of the age limit by the authorities would open up opportunities for individuals, particularly those in the informal sector, who heard about the Self-employed Enrollment Drive (SEED initiative at the later age but were now inspired to join and contribute to the SSNIT pension scheme to secure their future.
Nana Gyeabour, also the Bono Regional Chairman of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), made the appeal during the 2023 SSNIT/Trade Union Congress regional forum held in Sunyani.
The forum, under the theme “Sign up for SEED from SSNIT, Eye wo daakye, Fa no personal,” aimed to encourage self-employed individuals and formal sector workers to make regular contributions to the SSNIT scheme based on their earnings.
It also sought to engage the informal sector, recognizing their significant role in economic development, and educate them on the importance of joining and contributing to SSNIT in ensuring a stable financial future.
Nana Gyeabour observed that many workers in the informal sector were eager to join the scheme but were hindered by the age limit of which the direct consequence was due to hindrance of education and information reaching them about pension schemes.
He, therefore, stressed the importance for workers in the informal sector to prioritize pension issues and adopt practices that would fortify and safeguard their future regardless of the age.
Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, the Director General of SSNIT, provided statistics on the active membership, saying the private sector had 1,187,675 contributors, accounting for 61.33 percent, and public sector with 694,791 contributors, representing 35.88 percent and the self-employed sector with 54,007 contributors, making up 2.79 percent of the overall membership.
He acknowledged the efforts of the SEED initiative for its instrumental role in the remarkable growth of self-employed workers contributors surging from 14,000 to an impressive 54,007.
GNA