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The Deputy Director-General of Social Security and National Insurance (SSNIT), Mr. Michael Addo has disclosed that, about 2% of the 1.9 million (1,905,246) workers who have insured their incomes with SSNIT are self-employed workers. 

He said out of the 2% of the 1.9 million workers who have insured their incomes with SSNIT are self-employed means several millions of workers have no assurance of monthly pensions during their old age and this is heartbreaking and scary.

Speaking at the launch of the “Ye Wo Abonten” campaign a bold step by rolling out the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) to address this challenge and reduce the burden placed on people in active service to take care of their aged parents and self employed workers, he said every self-employed worker in the formal or informal sector, whether you are a trader or a lawyer, a commissioned income earner or an artisan you can register for the scheme, contribute and retire comfortably.

According to him, the SSNIT Scheme is the only insurance scheme at the moment that provides protection against loss of income, disability and cover for survivors without having to pay multiple premiums.

He emphasized that, with only 11% of your income, you are guaranteed up to a maximum of 60% of the average of your three years’ best annual incomes, depending on the number of years you have contributed.

Mr. Michael Addo said, the SEED will help redefine social security in this country and give hope to our self–employed brothers and sisters; that they can also retire in dignity and comfort and reduce over- dependence on family and friends.

He said, SSNIT aim is to ensure that self-employed workers also remain financially independent during their old age or when they are unable to work again due to permanent invalidity.

Staff of SSNIT will storm targeted business enclaves on the last Friday of every month to educate and enrol self-employed and informal sector workers onto the Basic Social Security Scheme to guarantee them hope of a decent retirement and for this reason, you will find us in their offices, at the markets, at the trotro/taxi stations, churches, mosques, community centres, events and on the streets, ‘’he stated ‘’

Our quest is to ensure that self-employed workers also remain financially independent even during their old age or when they are unable to work again due to permanent invalidity.

He noted that, every self-employed worker in the formal or informal sector, whether you are a trader or a lawyer, a commissioned income earner or an artisan - the Scheme is for you. Make it a priority to register, contribute and retire comfortably tomorrow. All it takes is you must be between the ages of 15 and 45 years to be eligible. And remember, the longer your contribution period, the better your pension. It is, therefore, in your interest to start contributing early.

Also, the higher the contributions you make, the better the pensions you receive. You must take full advantage of the Scheme because what is interesting is that the person who takes the highest monthly pension (GHS 169,000) is a businessman.

Member and Client Service Manager at SSNIT, Mrs. Victoria Gifty Abaidoo said the 'Ye Wo Abonten' is one of the four key internal activations or strategies aimed at encouraging the uptake of the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) and they must involve the self employed irrespective of their job schedule or rank to ensure that self-employed persons understand the value the Scheme offers and voluntarily join to safeguard their future.