Self-employed urged to sign on to SSNIT
The Director General of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Dr. John Ofori-Tenkrong has called on self-employed people to sign onto the scheme.
He emphasiSed that the self-employed stood to benefit a lot from the SSNIT pension scheme should they join it.
Dr Ofori-Tenkrong made the call at this year’s SSNIT Mobile Service Week launched in Tamale on Tuesday.
This year’s week launch celebration is on the theme “Retirement Security for the Self –Employed: Join SSNIT Today as a Voluntary Contributor.”
It was attended by public sector workers, self-employed such as hairdressers, taxi drivers, market women and skill workers from various communities across the length and breadth of the Northern Region.
Dr Ofori-Tenkrong said the SSNIT pension was the only reliable scheme in the country that gave“peace of mind to contributors at their old age.”
He, therefore, impressed upon self-employed not to hesitate to join the scheme and enjoy the fruits as soon as practicable.
“Every self-employed know that you will one day become old and you cannot continue doing what you are doing. That is why we are inviting you to join the SSNIT Scheme today, so that you can close that shop one day and enjoy a restful old age, whilst SSNIT supports you financially for the rest of your life,” Dr Ofori-Tenkrong advised.
He further explained that once any one signed onto scheme their dependents would be taken care of, should any unfortunate accident happen to them.
“Once you sign on to the Scheme, you get a life insurance for your loved ones. So if you pass on, the benefits will be calculated and paid to them according to what you have indicated,” the Director General stated.
Dr Ofori-Tenkrong entreated all pensioners who were above 72 years to renew their certificates or risk losing their monthly benefits.
“To our Pensioners, I appeal to you to take advantage of these SSNIT Mobile Service Week to renew your Pensioners’ Certificate if you are 72 years and above,” he advised
The Director General also urged the contributors to try to merge their SSNIT numbers with National Identification cards.
Mahammudu Issahaku, a businessman man in an interview with the Ghanaian Times commended the SSNIT for the launch, and indicated it had offered the opportunity to sign onto the scheme.
He revealed he had been looking for such opportunity, but he could not till the launch.
FROM YAKUBU ABDUL-MAJEED, TAMALE