Residents of Koforidua SSNIT flats demonstrate

Residents of SSNIT flats in the Koforidua Municipality yesterday went on a peaceful demonstration against what they described as "astronomic rent hike" imposed on them by their landlord.

The demonstrators, who reside at the Adweso Phases One and Two and Effiduase SSNIT flats, went to the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council to present a petition addressed to the Vice-President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills. The petition was copied to the Minister of Finance and the Speaker of Parliament among others.

They carried placards some of which read: "We reject astronomic rent increases", "SSNIT, treat us fairly", SSNIT you thrive on our money" and "No negotiations, no payment". In the petition, the joint residents association recalled that in January, SSNIT informed them that it had increased the rent for Adweso Phases One and Two from 40,000 cedis to 65,000 cedis a month while that for Effiduase was from 35,000 cedis to 60,000 cedis.

According to them the SSNIT management suspended the decision following their petition on April 1st, 2000. However, SSNIT "shocked us with another circular, which raised the rent for Adweso Phases One and Two from 40,000 cedis to 70,000 cedis and Effiduase from 35,000 cedis to 65,000 cedis, claiming the January circular was an error".

It expressed regret that SSNIT management ignored with seemingly contempt the earlier petition against the original increases. The petition said the new rents were too exorbitant in relation to their meager emoluments as public workers, that the period between notification and payment was too short for compliance and that they have been bearing the costs of maintaining their flats.

The petition charged that "the inconsiderate manner of the rent increases is a ploy by SSNIT to find surreptitious excuse to eject us from the flats. "Being among the mainstream contributors to the SSNIT scheme, we have the moral justification to benefit from any project in which our funds are invested."

It said the argument "that if our salaries are too low to sustain our rent payments, we should hold our employers (the government) responsible, amounts to inciting us to destabilize the current peaceful industrial atmosphere in the country". The petition suggested that tenants, who wish to own their flats should be allowed to do so through a mortgage or hire purchase system outside the Home Finance Company facility, which it noted, "to be an unbearable option for us as salary earners".

The Deputy Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Albert Ampong and SSNIT Administrative Manager in the region received the petitions on behalf of their bosses. Mr. Ampong, who commended the protesters for comporting themselves, urged them to continue to be patient while the management considers their petition.