A GROUP calling itself the Economic Fighters, has expressed its support for the court action against the National Service Scheme’s (NSS’) insurance plan introduced recently for service personnel.
Some NSS personnel are reported to have filed a suit in court against the insurance scheme by the NSS and the National Service Personnel Association (NASPA) of Ghana.
Following the implementation of the policy, each national service person will pay GH¢15 a month.
In cases of injury and death at workplace, they are entitled to be given GH¢3,000 and GH¢15,000 respectively.
But the Economic Fighters, in a statement to DAILY GUIDE, observed, “There are a number of questions begging for answers” as far as the policy is concerned.
Key among the questions, “Is there any historical data from the national service secretariat showing the percentage or even number of service personnel sustaining injuries at workplaces?
Again, “That data if it exists, must be shown for us to know how much of a problem injury and death are for service personnel. In the absence of such historical data, we need to do some analysis on the probability of injury occurring during national service. There are some places which are inherently accident prone, examples may include oil companies, construction companies, etc. What percentage of postings goes to these places?”
Furthermore, the group asked, “And how many personnel are involved? It is only when there is a representative sample of people posted to these places that a wholesale insurance policy can be justified. In implementing or ‘facilitating’ (as the NSS secretariat wants us to say) this policy, has the secretariat averted its mind to the Workmen’s Compensation Act (PNDC Law 187)? That law clearly outlines the responsibilities of an employer in cases of injury suffered by an employee at work. It specifically states ‘where an employee sustains personal injury by accident arising out of, and in the course of employment, the employer is liable, subject to this act, to pay compensation.’
“Doesn’t the NSS insurance scheme, which requires personnel to pay a compulsory GH¢15, shift responsibility from the employer to the employee?”
Economic Fighters averred, “We are told NASPA signed onto the policy on behalf of personnel. Does NASPA have the capacity to sign its members onto a policy that places financial liability on them?”
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