Management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) says it remains committed to expanding the scheme to cover as many informal sector workers, especially the self-employed.
SSNIT last year launched a new membership drive initiative dubbed Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED), which seeks to extend pension coverage to all workers, including the self-employed.
Deputy Director General at SSNIT in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr Michael Addo said the initiative will give hope to the self-employed and also ensure that both workers in the formal and informal sector benefit through their monthly contribution on their retirement or in case of validity.
Since the launch, he said about 60,000 self-employed individuals have been registered in the scheme and that they target registering about 250,000 self-employed contributors by the end of the year.
According to him, SSNIT made a total of Ghc 5.4 billion in benefit payments to pensioners, adding that they have increased it to Ghc 7.3 billion this year due to annual pension indexation.
As part of the activities to mark the National Chocolate Day celebration, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) paid a visit to some traders at Racecourse and Kejetia Markets respectively.
The gesture is to show appreciation to its loyal customers by distributing chocolates to traders who contribute to the scheme and an opportunity to interact with others to join the scheme and reap the essential financial benefits when they attain the pension age.
Some of the traders who have been registered as SSNIT contributors also spoke to Peace News, expressing excitement and confidence in the scheme.
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