Pension benefits amounting to GH¢ 246.59 million has been paid by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to some eligible 219,598 SSNIT pensioners as of 21^st October 2021, data from SSNIT showed.

These pension payments represent a 5.08 per cent increase on GH¢ 234.66 million paid out to some 211,369 eligible pensioners by the Trust in September 2021.

Also, the pension benefits paid out to pensioners in October this year represents a 15.77 per cent increase on the GH¢ 213.00 paid out to 230,000 eligible pensioners in October 2020.

As disclosed by the Trust, the highest earning pensioner receives GH¢ 129, 979.51 whereas the lowest earning pensioner receives GH¢ 300.00.

By mid-year 2021, the Trust had paid benefits amounting to about GH1.8 billion to eligible SSNIT pensioners.

These pension benefit payments represent an 8.43 per cent increase on GH¢ 1.66 billion paid out as benefits in the same period last year to eligible pensioners.

By observing the total number of beneficiaries on the SSNIT pension payments scheme it is noticeable that the eligible beneficiaries have increased from 211,369 in September 2021 to 219,598 in October 2021.

In a speech delivered on behalf of Mr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, Director-General of SSNIT, by his Deputy, Mr. Michael Addo at the 2021 edition of the Annual Business Forum for Forty Under 40, he urged all employers to honour their SSNIT obligations.

“It is our [SSNIT] desire that no employer defaults in the discharge of their social security obligations.

“When you violate any of these provisions, the Trust is compelled to take legal action against you because as I said, the law places an obligation on us [SSNIT] to pay benefits to workers or their dependents.”

Cleaning up the pension payroll

Recently, the Trust announced that it had successfully deleted names of some pensioners aged 72 years and above.

These pensioners were found, according to the Trust, to have failed in their own interest to renew their pensioner certificates as of August 31, 2021.

The pensioner certificates are issued to pensioners who are 72 years old and are retired. This certificate is issued under the 1991 (PNDC law 247).

However, for pensioners aged 75 years, their annual pensioner certificate renewal is done under Act 766, SSNIT disclosed.

According to the Trust, this evacuation action saved it some GH¢16.24 million in pension payments in September 2021.

This is not the first time the Trust has taken this action. Earlier this year, SSNIT disclosed that it had since 2018, saved about GH¢144 million from deactivating accounts of some pensioners.

SSNIT further revealed that its pensioners account deactivating process was however brought to a halt in March 2020 due to the advent of the Covid-19.

In the meantime, the Director-General of SSNIT, has assured Ghanaians that it will continue to explore innovative digital ways to enhance payments of pensions contributions.

“We [SSNIT] will continue to engage you as partners of the Scheme with the aim of serving you better. We value your comments, thus our doors remain open. The feedback you give is vital in shaping our operations and service delivery.”