Workers Swerve Govt � Big Demo Hits Acccra, Kumasi

Thousands of workers belonging to 12 labour unions demanding the release of their tier-two pension funds will hit the streets tomorrow in Accra and Kumasi as court adjourns to Monday November 24, 2014, the hearing of an interlocutory injunction filed by government to ban workers from demonstrating over the tier-two pension saga. Last week, government filed an interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the 12 labour unions from demonstrating until the determination of a suit filed by the government as to who determines appointment of fund managers. In response, workers filed to challenge the legality of the Attorney General�s interlocutory injunction suit. However, when the case was called yesterday, the Attorney General�s Department asked for adjournment with explanation that the affidavit of the 12 unions was served on them yesterday morning and they needed time to study it. Convener for the 12 unions Mr Raynolds Tenkorang told The Finder that with the adjournment of hearing on the interlocutory injunction to Monday, nothing stops them from embarking on the strike. He explained that the strike was to drum home their demands for government to release their tier-two pension contributions to schemes formed by the unions. He said the strike was also to let government know that nions are prepared to face them squarely According to him, the unions have informed the Ghana Police Service and they have agreed on the routes to use in both Kumasi and Accra. Mr Tenkorang called on all public sector workers nationwide to participate in the demonstration. �We have taken this path to bring to the attention of the public our frustration due to the impediments placed in our way to operate the four public sector schemes registered and licensed by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to operate the tier-tow pensions�, he said He explained the numerous meetings with the NPRA, the ministry and other government officials have not yielded any results. He was categorical that unions would never accept government�s proposal since government representatives are on the board of schemes set up by unions. He said government was free to change its representatives on the board of schemes set up by unions if it so wishes. A report by the NPRA to Parliament revealed that government, through the Controller and Accountant General, has failed to transfer GH₵269,269,105.79 of workers� pension contributions to the designated Bank of Ghana account. The controversy over exactly how much has been lodged in the account, and who should manage the tier-two pension funds, forced workers to call a strike that was called off after 2 weeks. The NPRA had announced that a total of GH₵1.6 billion has accrued in the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Temporarily Pension Fund Account. But it has emerged that between May 2012 and September 2014, government failed to pay GH₵269,269,105.79 into the account although it collected workers� contributions. The document also shows that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has also failed to transfer contributions collected between June and September 2014 into the account. According to the report, �the total outstanding contributions determined on the basis of Bank Transfer Advices (BTAs) for CAGD as at October 27, 2014 was GH₵269,269,105.79. This amount excludes the amount for the contribution months of August 2014 and September 2014, for which BATs are yet to be issued. The amount of GH₵269,269,105.79 stated above is also without interest on delayed contributions and on unpaid contributions. "It is worth noting that the total amount for outstanding amounts for SSNIT is yet to be determined based on BTAs submitted to NPRA by SSNIT.� The Authority, according to the report to the Finance Committee of Parliament, undertook a number of investments in Treasury Bills and government bonds during the years under review. �These investments were made between April 19, 2010 and October 27, 2014. As at October 27, 2014, the total balance on account and an investment holding of GH₵1,641,117,027.70 was being held at BoG.�