SSNIT to prosecute nine employers

The Tamale Area Office of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has obtained bench warrants from the courts for the arrest and prosecution of nine recalcitrant employers who failed to pay the social security contributions of their workers, after several reminders to do so.

The arrest warrants were issued because they had persistently refused to appear before the courts.  

Mr Frank K. M. Molbila, the Tamale Area Manager of SSNIT, who made the disclosure in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale, said the action formed part of efforts by his outfit to ensure that employers complied with SSNIT Act 766, Part Two, Section 63 (1), which relates to enforcement of payment of social security contributions. 

Defaulters
He gave the names of the defaulting employers as Alhassan Salifu Tanko of Rural Technology based in Salaga; Alhassan Abdulai of Azare School Complex, Gushiegu; and Boi Kofi Padmore Ntiamoah of Boi Kofi Padmore Chemical Shop, Yendi.

Others are Adam Baa-Ntima, Proprietor of Petrolbay in Yendi; Alhassan Abukari of Bimbilla Community Co-operative Credit Union and Mohammed Hadi Alhassan of Americana Plus Enterprise.

The rest are Yakubu Ibrahim Sumbeida of Yam Zua Limited, Bawku; John Lamisi Afara of Jolafara Enterprise and Nabia Enterprise in Zebilla.

The Tamale Area Office of SSNIT has jurisdiction over the three regions in the northern part of the country.

Reason for court action
Mr Molbila explained that SSNIT resorted to court action because the employers proved unwilling to honour their obligations under the law.

He said the non-payment of social security contributions for one’s employees had dire consequences as it affected workers’ income and social security on retirement.

He added further that it also denied the Trust of income for investment and also threatened the sustainability of the scheme.

Offences
Mr Molbila mentioned other overlooked offences committed by employers as failure to register their establishments and workers with SSNIT and employers’ inability to submit reports on payments of social security contributions.

He explained that under Act 766, there was no provision for casual workers, as such employers were obliged to register and pay social security contributions for every worker they employed so long as the worker was between the ages of 15 and 45.

He said employers’ refusal to submit the social security reports on their employees denied the SSNIT the chance to credit the accounts of the workers concerned.

He told employers that the Trust would not renege on its mandate to administer a sustainable Pension Scheme for Ghanaian workers and for that reason it would apply the law to ensure that workers were compensated for their labour.