Accra, May 30, GNA – Health Sector Workers Unions (HSWU) and Associations on Friday said they would resist any attempt by government to impose on members the Pensions Alliance Trust, or any scheme other than the health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme.
They said government’s actions and inactions toward Second Tier Pensions Scheme was unsatisfactory, and was in conflict with the Social Protection offered by the Pension Act 2008, (Act 766).
They said: ‘the Second Tier Pension is investment ridden, yet Government is in arrears with regards to payment of contributions leading to loss of investment returns.’
A resolution of HSWU and Associations on the Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme (HSOPS) passed at a meeting in Accra, gave government up to July 14, 2014 to address their concerns to avoid any disturbances in the health delivery system.
The HSWU, Ghana Registered Nurses’ Association, Ghana Medical Association, Government Hospitals and Pharmacists Associations, Association of Ghana Health Service Administrators, Health Accounting Staff Association of Ghana, Ghana Physician Assistants Association, and the Ghana Association of Nurse Anesthetics have come together to form the HSOPS.
The statement signed by the leaders of the seven Associations and the Union, said the refusal by the National Pensions Review Authority (NPRA) and Government to transfer funds from the temporary Pension Fund Account into the HSOPS Account was giving cause for suspicion that the Fund was being dissipated.
It, therefore, urged NPRA and government, to as a matter of urgency, transfer all accumulated second Tier pension contributions of Health Sector Workers as at May 31, 2014 into the HSOPS Account.
‘That effective June 1, 2014 Government – Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Controller and Accountant General and the NPRA should ensure that all monthly second tier pension contributions due our members are paid into the HSOPS Account.
‘In the interest of industrial peace and harmony, we urge Government and NPRA to seriously consider and address all concerns raised by HSWU and Associations as well as any further calls by other public sector unions without further delay,’ it added.
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