Top insurance official advises agents to avoid malpractices

Sunyani (B/A) Nov. 11, GNA - Mr. Ivan Avereyireh, Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of State Insurance Corporation of Ghana on Friday advised agents of the corporation against indulging in fraudulent practices. He was addressing the close of a five-day training programme for 20 newly-recruited agents of the corporation in Sunyani. The regional manager explained that "the SIC operates under sacred conditions" and urged the agents to tell the truth about the company's policy.

"Just sell the basics enshrined in the corporation's policy and avoid misrepresenting them to entice customers who may later realize that, what had been sold to them about the company was not feasible in practice," he said.

Mr. Avereyireh said insurance thrived on good image, adding, "If you show any trace of dishonesty, it can cause an otherwise good- intentioned customer to rebuff your approach". He urged them to strive and win more customers for the corporation by educating them about the operations of the corporation in terms of insurance of all forms. Mr. Avereyireh noted that many people in Brong Ahafo lacked understanding in insurance policies except those involving motor accidents and reminded the agents to let their awareness education cover insurances such as Marine, Property, Retirement, Child Education, Fire, Life and others. More

Mr. Mark Ofosu Ampadu, Northern Sector Area Manager of the Corporation, based in Kumasi, noted that many people had different notions about insurance operations, "because they do not understand its true essence. He charged the new agents to visit offices, houses, workshops and other places they might deem fit to sell the corporation's policy. Mr. Ampadu noted that many people in the country would first think where to save their money before seeking for protection, describing the practice as not the best. He reminded the participants of what they had learnt at the workshop and charged them to communicate same in their communities so they would embrace the insurance policy to save them in time of calamity.

Mr. Ampadu noted that SIC had been in the insurance business for quite a long time "simply because of the combination of honesty and truth in its operations". "We are the masters in the insurance business in the country because our processes are sacred", he said and advised the agents to contact the district offices for guidance as and when necessary. Ms. Patricia Agyemang, course prefect, on behalf of her colleagues thanked the management of the corporation for the course, which, she said, had enabled them to know more about the insurance business.

She suggested that since most of the agents were teachers it would be better if similar training workshops were organised during holidays. The course prefect suggested that participants at future workshops could be given certificates of participation to boost their morale. The new agents were taken through subjects including, "Inter personal skills", "Sales Participation" and "Marketing Skills".