A group of aggrieved personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have berated the management of the Service, demanding immediate release of all funds deducted from their salaries for a pension policy at the now defunct CDH Asset Management Company Limited.

According to the group, for seven years spanning 2012 to 2019, the deductions were made to the company until it was declared insolvent by the Bank of Ghana three years ago and placed under liquidation.

Meanwhile, the personnel alleged that management of GNFS received full refund of the deductions from GCB capital- liquidators of CDH, but decided to pay small percentage of the amount to the personnel and plan on withholding the rest until they retire.

However, responding to the allegations on behalf of the GNFS, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO), Timothy Osafo-Affum, the Head of Public Relations of the Service, parried the allegation, explaining that out of over GH₵8 million which was validated by GCB capital as deductions from 2012 to 2019, about GH₵4.3 million, representing half, has been paid to the management and the same disbursed to the 9,143 contributors.

“As of today, the liquidator owes the GNFS about GH₵4.3 million as the outstanding amount due contributors. Therefore, it is untrue that management has clandestinely invested that same money for profit.”
Timothy Osafo-Affum

Personnel Not Informed Initially

Moreover, another allegation the aggrieved personnel leveled against management is that management did not seek their consent before the deduction started neither did they fill out any form.

“They gave out our names and other details to CDH just like that without consulting us the personnel. We do not know how much profit we are yielding or the terms of the agreement made between CDH and the GNFS. If any of the personnel die, his or her monies also die.”
Leader of the Aggrieved Personnel

Describing the action by management as unfair and provocative, the spokesperson for the aggrieved personnel said that, “they want their money in full and immediately, else they would be compelled to take matters into their own hands.”

The Head of Public Relations of the Service, while giving details of what transpired in response to the allegations, recalled that in 2011, CDH introduced to the National Welfare Association of the Service a policy intended to enhance the pensions of personnel. He added that the Welfare Executives, agreeing that it was a good policy, sought permission from the then management of the service to solicit the views of personnel nationwide.

“Personnel agreed to the CDH policy, however, there was no agreement on the amount to be deducted. While some personnel opted for GH₵20, others opted for GH₵50.”
Timothy Osafo-Affum

ACFO Osafo-Affum noted that GH₵20 was accepted across board and deductions started from the Controller and Accountant General’s Department in 2012.

“This was however not compulsory as some personnel from the Ashanti Region decided not to be part and were left out.”
Timothy Osafo-Affum

Over the period, between 2012 and 2019, ACFO Osafo-Affum indicated that the deductions continued and some personnel benefited from partial withdrawal from the policy. He noted that in October 2019, GNFS management ordered deductions to cease after the Bank of Ghana declared CDH insolvent and formed a taskforce to follow up with the liquidators to retrieve locked-up funds.