SSNIT fights two companies in court for workers contribution

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has taken legal action in court against two establishments operating in Lawra in the Upper West Region, for defaulting in the payments of their workers contribution to the Trust.

The Babaco Ventures has defaulted in the payment of GH¢ 997.61 being workers contribution to the Trust and is legally responsible, to pay an additional GH¢425.97, as penalty for its inaction.

The other establishment, Rural Alliance Action Program (RAAP) has not also paid the GH¢ 20,118.99, it deducted from its workers salaries as their contribution to the Trust and is liable to pay 9,243.32 as a penalty fine.

The director of Babaco Ventures failed to appear before the Lawra Circuit Court on Wednesday when the case was called for hearing and the Presiding Judge, Mr. Anthony Amoah-Aturu issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The judge also adjourned the case to August 22, 2012, for the officials to appear with their counselors in court for hearing.

Mr. Foster Adjei, a prosecutor of the Trust warned that SSNIT would not relent on its efforts to compelling organizations, departments and agencies through legal actions, to retrieve all unpaid workers contributions to the fund.

He said the interest of clients of the Trust was fundamental and supreme to its existence and appealed to organizations, departments and agencies operating under the SSNIT pension to abide by the rules and regulations of the pension act of 2008, Act 766.

He explained that SSNIT did not take the delight in prosecuting organizations that had defaulted in the payment of their workers contributions in court, but would do so if such organization refused to act promptly to its demand notice letters served them.

Mr. Adjei said the Trust had put in place favorable conditions for defaulters to either negotiate settlement with it or make full payment to it and urged all organizations operating under its pension scheme, to take advantage of the package in order not to push the Trust to the wall to take legal action against them.

He explained that under the current National Pension Act 2008 (Act 766) employers were obliged to pay their workers contributions to the Trust by 14th of the ensuing month, to help avert the payment of penalties.**