Following the launch of the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) last year, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has seen an increase in the number of informal sector workers enrolled from about 13,000 to over 100,000 enrolments as at August, 2024.
This was disclosed by the Acting Corporate Affairs Manager at SSNIT, Victoria Gifty Abaidoo, in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, where the Trust launched another campaign to get more informal sector workers to enroll on the scheme.
The campaign dubbed Operation-A-Thon or Ops-A-Thon seeks to encourage the self-employed to take advantage of the SSNIT pension scheme by making contributions from their incomes in order to guarantee future earnings after retirement.
During the Ops-A-Thon launch on Friday, August 30, Victoria Gifty said the campaign is aimed at introducing SSNIT to the general public as an institution that cares for the Ghanaian worker. Through the Ops-A-Thon, staff of the Scheme will visit market centres to educate and sell the SEED to the informal sector workers.
She explained that the campaign is to enable the self-employed workers in the informal sector insure their incomes against old age or permanent invalidity. This will provide subscribers with monthly pension allowance during old age or “permanent invalidity pension” where one can no longer work as a result of injury, she said.
According to her, SSNIT is for all Ghanaians and not just the formal sector workers as many misconstrue. “SSNIT is good and we care for all workers,” she stated, urging the general public, especially self-employed workers in the informal sector to enroll on the scheme.
Madam Abaidoo assured workers who are yet to join the scheme that SSNIT has improved its services and does not waste time in processing claims for people. She further advised prospective subscribers not to buy into the false narrative that SSNIT does not pay enough benefits, explaining that as salary or income insurance scheme, the amount one receives during old age depends on the contribution they make during their working days.
She further noted that the availability of electronic payment platforms, like mobile money, presents an opportunity for self-employed to enroll on the scheme and make contributions at ease. Thus, one can make contributions through *711*9# and does not need to visit the bank or SSNIT office.
Aside the retirement benefits and invalidity pension, SSNIT also offers clients with benefits such as survivors’ benefit and premium-free NHIS subscription.
The SSNIT Corporate Affairs Manager expressed excitement over the success of the campaign in the Upper West Region. Staff of the Trust marched from their office through principal streets of the regional capital where messages about the SEED were shared with the general public.
The Ops-A-Thon Campaign was finally launched at the Wa Central Market where SSNIT mounted a client service desk to educate and register interested persons. The SSNIT staff also interacted with various informal sector workers, including traders, tailors and dressmakers, drivers, food vendors, mechanics, beauticians and hairdressers, and many others.
Madam Abaidoo indicated that they will continue to visit the markets and other work places as SSNIT seeks to achieve its mandate in the protection of workers at old age or in times of permanent invalidity irrespective of whether they are in the formal or informal sector.
Hafiz Timbile Adams
