The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has been adjudged the Outstanding Ghanaian-owned Corporate Organization of the year 2019 at the just ended 7th Made in Ghana Awards organised by Entrepreneurs Foundation Ghana.
SSNIT was found to have refocused the Trust’s business to position it as a “credible and high performing institution.” The Trust in 2019 implemented measures which resulted in the deletion of over 12,000 non-existent pensioners from the pension payroll, saving over GH¢106 million.
The Board and Management of SSNIT is also credited with carrying out a comprehensive value- for- money audit which led to a review of its investments and also saved the Trust tens of millions of dollars.
Commenting on the Awards, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SSNIT, Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor said that upon the assumption of office over three years ago, the Board and Management have worked hard to improve the image of the Trust by prioritising its key stakeholders and made deliberate efforts to be more inclusive of them. This, Dr Addo Kufuor mentioned, has led to meaningful engagements with stakeholders such as pensioners, organized labour, employers and the media.
“I am a pensioner myself, and I am happy to say that attention has been given to issues concerning my colleague pensioners. Access ramps and wheel chairs have been provided in all SSNIT offices to assist retirees with mobility challenges. We have also assisted the Pensioners’ Associations by providing offices in Trust owned buildings to enable them run their affairs, but most importantly we have donated an amount of GHS 800,000 to the National Pensioners Association to aid in their medical care.”
Pensioners’ Priority Desks have also been introduced in all SSNIT branches so that pensioners who walk into SSNIT offices do not queue before being attended to, he added.
He mentioned that, pensions are now paid within 14 days as compared to the two months it took previously. Old Age Lump Sum and Survivors’ Lump Sum benefits are processed even much faster, that is, 10 and 8 days respectively, he added.
The Board Chairman of SSNIT said that the strides made by the Trust were as a result of the collective efforts of the board, management and staff.
Dr Addo Kufour further said he believed that it was not by sheer coincidence that the Trust has been recognised and given numerous awards since the current board took over: “I know that the Board, Management and staff have strived to improve the fortunes of the Trust and to achieve these feats and I commend them for the work they’ve put in. These Awards are a testament to the fact that Ghanaians are capable and with the right competence, integrity and patriotism, we can effectively run our affairs and compete on a global scale.
He dedicated the award to the Board of Trustees, Management and Staff of the Trust for their commitment to the cause of the Trust and its Members and Clients.
Other Award winners of the night were CEO, Zeal Environmental Technologies, Mr Kwaku Ennin as the Lifetime Achievement Recipient and Nkulenu Palm Soup Base as Best Processed Product of the Decade.
