SSNIT Pensioners Seek Accountability

The Oguaa District Pensioners Association has expressed concern about the failure on the part of National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Pensioners Association of Ghana (PAG) to present its annual accounts to members since its formation about 21 years ago.

Ernest Thompson,Director-General of SSNIT
According to them, Article 9 of the association’s constitution requires that NEC has to present annual accounts to members and ‘we do not see why they have totally refused to do so for our betterment.’

The Chairman of the Oguaa Pensioners Association, Thomas Appiah, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE stated that although the constitution further demands that 25 percent of monthly dues deducted at source should be set aside to cater for the welfare of its members, ‘NEC has never provided the accounts for members to ascertain what has accrued and whether that amount plus subsequent monthly provisions would be adequate enough to run the health scheme for us.’

Mr Appiah also added that not enough modalities have been put in place to assure contributors of what happens in the event of death of a member who does not benefit under the scheme.

‘The association has not made any strides to influence both SSNIT and government to implement policies, strategies and social interventions for SSNIT pensioner but NEC has rather burdened the poor pensioner with additional financial obligations,’ he added.

He refuted claims made by the National Women’s Organiser of PAG that the monthly deduction of GH¢4 for the member’s health scheme was done in consultation with the regional officers.

He emphasized the need for the government to do automatic salary adjustment in order to alleviate the economic plight of the pensioners in the country.

‘We need medicare and not any other health insurance scheme since the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) can not cover some of the diseases. The situation is compelling some of our needy people to appeal for assistance on radio and TV stations to pay for their hospital bills,’ he added.