SSNIT REITERATES COMMITMENT TO EXPANDING COVERAGE TO SELF-EMPLOYED

Management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has reiterated its commitment towards expanding the scheme to covering as many as possible those who work in the informal sector, particularly self-employed Ghanaians.

SSNIT last year launched a new membership drive initiative dubbed Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED), which seeks to fulfil the mandate of SSNIT to extend pension coverage to all workers, including the self-employed.

Deputy Director General at SSNIT in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr Michael Addo said the initiative would help to redefine social security in the country and give hope to the self-employed that they could also retire in dignity and comfort.

Since the launch, he said about 30,000 – 60,000 self-employed individuals have been registered onto the scheme and that they target registering about 250,000 self-employed contributors by the end of the year.

According to him, SSNIT made a total of Ghc 5.4 billion in benefit payments to pensioners, adding that they intend to increase it to Ghc 7.3 billion.

Mr. Addo made the remarks after staff of SSNIT stormed Racecourse and Kejetia Markets as part of activities marking the SSNIT Customer Appreciation Day.

They engaged with traders and explained to them the benefits they stand to gain when they embrace the initiative and register.

They also distributed chocolates and other customized items to the traders who have signed up to the new Self-Employment Enrolment Drive (SEED) initiative.

Again some of the traders who are SSNIT customers urged the workers (SSNIT) to regularly come to their market places  and have a chat with some of the traders and book their contributions.

They also urged their colleague traders and self employed persons to get enrolled onto the SEED pension scheme of SSNIT and enjoy the benefits.