Workers express concern at delays in SSNIT payments

Dormaa-Ahenkro, July 24, GNA - Workers at Dormaa Ahenkro have expressed concern about the delays in the payment of social security benefits and have called on SSNIT to work harder to speed up the processing for workers to be paid on time.

They said at an open forum at the commissioning of a contact office for SSNIT that the SSNIT Pension Scheme, as compared to CAP 30, "is woefully inadequate" and called for a review of the scheme. The opening of the office brings to six SSNIT offices in Brong-Ahafo, in Sunyani, Techiman, Wenchi, Kintampo, Goaso and Dormaa-Ahenkro.

Mr. Ben Osei-Bonsu, Regional Manager of SNNIT, said plans were advanced to open branches in the remaining seven district capitals in the region.

''The opening of offices in the districts is aimed at bringing our services to the doorsteps of workers to avoid the problem of traveling long distances to Sunyani.''

Mr. Osei-Bonsu advised workers to join the scheme to enable them to get adequate support during their old age.

Mr. Emmanuel Agyei-Ntiamoah, Sunyani District Manager of SSNIT, explained that delays in the payment of benefits to workers were attributable to factors, including failure of workers to give up-to-date records and ignorance of workers to contact the Trust's offices whenever they encountered problems.

He appealed to workers to impress on their employers to pay their social security contributions to the Trust promptly. ''The Trust is not meant for only salaried workers but private workers as well, like carpenters, masons, mechanics, farmers and urged them to join the scheme.''

The Sunyani District Manager expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Dormaa District Assembly for providing the office accommodation for the Trust.

Mr Emmanuel Duku, Dormaa District Chief Executive, said the opening of the Trust office at Dormaa-Ahenkro was a blessing to the workers in the area and urged them to patronise the office.

The DCE assured the Trust that the assembly would allocate a vast land for the construction of a permanent office and estate houses. Mr Stephen Hayford Baah, a retired educationist, who presided, noted that the opening of the SSNIT office would help students in tertiary institutions in the area to access SSNIT loans without any hindrance.