President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the recent surplus of GH¢230 million posted by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) should serve as assurance to labour that government will not do anything to jeopardise their future.
He said his government was committed to expanding pension coverage and sustaining the pension scheme regime in addition to enhancing the adequacy of pension pay-outs and nothing would be done to destroy it.
“The government remains committed to expanding pension coverage, sustaining the pension’s regime, and enhancing the adequacy of pension payouts. I would like to extend special gratitude to the Sector Minister for Pensions, the Honourable Ignatius Baffour Awuah, and Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, for his hard work, diligence, and exemplary leadership in transforming the sector.
I take note in particular of the improved performance of SSNIT which recently announced a surplus of GH¢230 million in its operations. This should be reassuring to organised labour, and perhaps bring into sharper relief the unnecessary controversy that was recently generated by SSNIT’s efforts to offload non-performing assets in its hotel portfolio,” he emphasised.
President Akufo-Addo said this when he addressed the 12th quadrennial conference of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) currently underway at Gomoa Fetteh in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region yesterday.
The conference which would see to the election of new executives to run the union over the next four years was on the theme: “75 years of building stronger unions in a challenging world of work”.
The President said there was the need for all stakeholders to be measured when it comes to making decisions and pronouncements that could affect the long-term interests of pensioners.
He said his government over the past seven years had consistently engaged in dialogue with trade unions to resolve industrial disputes amicably and this had fostered a stable industrial environment necessary for the implementation of government policies and programmes, which in turn had attracted investment while boosting economic growth.
“The preference for social dialogue over strike actions was commendable, as it promotes peace, social cohesion and mutual respect and trust,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo therefore urged the unions to take advantage of the existing positive relationship and form stronger partnership that would enable them exercise their powers for the benefit of all.
“Despite the challenges facing our nation, it is natural for trade unions to advocate for better conditions of service for their members. As a government, we ask only for moderation, taking into account global events and their impact on our local economies,” he said.
Additionally, he said the unions must play a proactive role in shaping the future of work, adding that “The rise of automation, artificial intelligence and the gig economy represents both opportunities and challenges.”
The outgoing Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Yaw Baah, on his part expressed his appreciation to the members of the union for their support over the last eight years.
He commended the government for the leadership showed during the difficult times in the country and expressed the hope that a lot more would be done to steer the economy out of trouble times.
FROM CLIFF EKUFUL, GOMOA FETTEH
