Published on 10 April, 2015.

The 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Local Union was held in Sunyani. The theme for the conference was "Consolidating the gains of 50 years of Social Security Administration in Ghana- The Role of Stakeholders".

The Guest of Honour was the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku. He underscored the strategic importance of SSNIT and praised the high sense of professionalism exhibited by the staff of the Trust when processing claims. He urged SSNIT to apply more technology to improve upon its operations especially when workers retire from active service.

Mr Opoku stated that the government’s appreciation of SSNIT’s role in the socio-economic development of the country was immense. He emphasised that it was a driving force with the potential to mobilise resources towards the total expansion of the economy.

Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Eric Opoku, delivers his address

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister added that the expansion of the economy would lead to creation of jobs, high GDP, increase in per capita income and above all raise tax revenue for the state.

The key note address was presented by the General Manager-Finance, Nii Adja Nablah, on behalf of the Director-General (DG), Mr. Ernest Thompson.

He revealed that SSNIT had penetrated the entire fabric of the country’s development, through its spectrum of investment in Manufacturing, Housing Development, Commercial Properties, Educational facilities, the Students’ Loan, Health Centres, Specialist/Mother and Child Hospitals, Multi-storey Car Parks, Abattoirs and Markets.

The GM-Finance said that SSNIT had graduated from some turbulent bumpiness to maturity, from the Provident Fund, 1965-1991, to the Pension Scheme 1991-2010, berthing on Three-Tier Scheme in 2010 and an amendment in 2014 and confirmed that SSNIT as the largest public non-bank financial institution in Ghana had helped significantly to reduce poverty among the elderly who rely on it.

On technology, Nii Adja Nablah noted that the introduction of the Operations Business Suite (OBS) would facilitate information sharing among SSNIT offices and between the Trust and its customers.

The GM-Finance revealed that the number of pensioners catered for by SSNIT population had grown exponentially from 971 in 1991 to over 142,000 in 2014.

Nii Adja Nablah reiterated that it was high time the spirit of Social Security was inculcated into the youth of the country “to catch them young” to continue the principle of “Contract of Generation” and therefore charged Government, Labour, Employers, Workers and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), to play very well their stakeholder’s role to enable SSNITachieve its vision.

In his speech, the General Secretary of the SSNIT Local Union, Mr. George Akuaku, traced the history of SSNIT from 1965 when Parliament enacted Act 279 to establish the Social Security Fund (SSF) to 2008 when a Presidential assent gave birth to the National Pensions Act, Act 766 of 2008.

He noted that SSNIT had made huge investments in OBS and this was aimed at automating and decentralising transactions of contributors and general operations of the Trust.

Mr Akuaku said SSNIT had helped in reducing the problems of residential accommodation with over 7,168 housing units in the country and also built high rise buildings for rental for institutions and organisations.

The General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), Mr Solomon Kotei, said the ICU had enjoyed three decades of enviable and harmonious trade unionism with the SSNIT Local Union which has translated into monumental growth and development of the Trust.

Mr S A Kotei delivering his speech

He noted that this had translated into increased productivity for SSNIT to become one of the most successful and revered state institutions in Ghana.

The ICU General Secretary lauded the Trust’s involvement in infrastructural development and partnership with business entities which had contributed immensely to the economic development of Ghana. He attributed these achievements to good management practices and the selflessness and dedication exhibited by the employees.

Mr Kotei commended the Trust and said that although the Funds intake had dropped from 17.5% under PNDC Law 247 of 1991 to 13.5% under Act 766 of 2008, SSNIT continues to increase pensions for pensioners.

The Conference was chaired by the Sunyani Area Manager, Mr Jos Arris-Bougre, and attended by the General Manager-Admin/HR, Miss Sheila Mavis Sampson; the Human Resource Manager, Mrs Mary Nagatey; the Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms Evangeline Amegashie and the Legal Services Manager, Baffour Akoto.

A section of the Local Union Delegates