A Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) member, Mr Seth Abloso, has petitioned the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) against the planned celebration of 50 years of social security in Ghana by the SSNIT.
He said the 50th anniversary of SSNIT should be a period for stock-taking and an assessment of the administration of the scheme; to focus on addressing the challenges facing it, ‘to ensure that it was kept afloat,’ rather than celebrated.
The SSNIT has started putting out advertisements in respect of its 50th anniversary celebration for which it intends to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country as well as support the provision of social protection through three construction projects.
The projects are the construction of 40 community police stations to be distributed among 11 police administrative regions to augment the police visibility agenda, a modern children’s library as help for its future contributors and a sports complex for help ignite the passion of sports among Ghanaians.
Acting outside its mandate But Mr Abloso argued in his petition that the planned activities by the SSNIT were not within its mandate since its social protection obligations were restricted to social security contingencies.
“I understand that in the operation of the social security scheme, the trust is to ensure the provision of social protection for the working population for various contingencies including old age, invalidity and death. In so doing, it is restricted to providing for its membership, who are contributors to the scheme. Can SSNIT assume the responsibility of providing for people of all walks of life or its future contributors?” he queried.
SSNIT’s motivation questioned Mr Abloso also drew the attention of the NPRA to a number of SSNIT’s operations, which he contends, ought to be stopped. These include mourning with communities in which it operates.
He recalled that in 2002, SSNIT presented cash and drinks to the Asogli Traditional Area, towards the funeral of the Agbogbomefia, during which the leader of a five-member SSNIT delegation was reported to have said that it was their responsibility to mourn with the community in which they operated.
Others are the social responsibility of giving back to society, making donations on behalf of Ghana, donations made to help cater for supporters of the national team, as well as offering support to potential contributors through the national sanitation programme.
Mr Abloso cited from the report of the commission of inquiry into matters relating to the participation of the Black Stars team in the world cup tournament in Brazil 2014, in which SSNIT is listed on the roll of sponsors as having contributed GH¢1,000,000.
“What could have been the motivation for such spending and to which account is such expenditure debited? Is it listed as an operational expense, and to which of the specified social security contingencies does this relate,” Mr Abloso asked further.
Needless expenditures Mr Abloso said against the background of the disappointing performance of the SSNIT in the delivery of retirement income security for members of the scheme, there was little to celebrate, adding “what is there to celebrate and who is celebrating what? Is it the trustees calling for a celebration or members of the scheme?”
Mr Abloso said the Presidential Commission on Pensions appointed in August 2004 in response to workers’ agitations made a number of recommendations to restore the confidence of members in the scheme.
“To what extent have the recommendations accepted in the 2006 White Paper been implemented? And how are we faring five years into the implementation of the three-tier pension scheme?”, he queried.
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