SSNIT says it would enforce judgement

The Social Insurance and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Friday said it shares the view that the independent media should be nurtured in the interest of the country's young democracy but it also has a role to protect the funds of the scheme.

It also has a long-standing policy to seek redress in the courts of law to recover rents due it and in doing so, SSNIT would not be selective but would apply the rules equally.

This was contained in a statement issued by SSNIT after a meeting with Vipe FM, concerning payment of rent arrears owed by Questfine Limited-operators of Vipe FM- to the tune of 151 million cedis.

Vibe FM proposed to SSNIT to return items it seized to enable it operate.

Vipe FM also asked SSNIT to buy air-time from their station to off-set a 506 million-cedi debt. The second option was for SSNIT to allow them to move out and for SSNIT to take the equipment and write off the debt. The statement said both options are not acceptable to SSNIT.

The statement said SSNIT, in 1999 initiated a court action to recover rent due it from tenants in the Trust Towers who owed over 1.2 billion cedis out of which Questfine Limited, operator of Vibe FM owed the highest amount of 151 million cedis.

Since then, SSNIT has obtained court judgement against a number of defaulting tenants and gone into execution. It was part of this effort that on September 27, 2001 SSNIT enforced judgement following persistent failure by Questfine Limited to pay its rent arrears.

Similar judgements have also been enforced against a number of rent defaulters in the Trust Towers from where Vibe FM operates.

SSNIT said it would do whatever is fair and lawful to safeguard the interest of all shareholders, including the contributors, the pensioners, the widows and orphans whose very livelihood depends on the Fund.