he Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has rejected calls by former President John Mahama that all contributors should be given a three-month token to cushion them against hardship in this era of coronavirus pandemic.
“That the benefits His Excellency is suggesting that we pay do not exist in the law. To do so will constitute an illegality and contravention of the provisions of the National Pensions Act, 2008, Act 766”, it said in a statement.
Further “That even though these are not normal times, the Trust remains firmly committed to paying over GHS213 million pensioners on the SSNIT payroll as well as honouring payments to all new pensioners that apply.”
Explaining further, the Trust said it understands and appreciates the challenges some workers and employers are encountering as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the benefits provided by the social security schemes are country specific based on the laws governing them.
Former President Mahama also said social security contributions are essentially an insurance scheme made, not just for pensions in old age, but also to help contributors in times of adversity such as this.
But the Trust observed that though it acknowledges the sentiments of the former President, the Trust is a creature of law emanating from the National Pensions Act, 2008, Act 766 which governs the administration of SSNIT and all other pension schemes in the country.
It said SSNIT has its operations, reach and mandate clearly stated in the law.
It however promised to protect the variability and sustainability of the SSNIT scheme at all times
Source: MyNewsGh.com