"Solve pension problems in less than three months" – Nana Addo to the Minister of Labor, SSNIT, NPRA

General News of Wednesday, May 1st, 2019

Source: awakenewsonline.com

2019-05-01

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Akufo-Addo Dankwa, instructed the Minister of Employment and Labor Relations to contact the Social Security and National Insurance Fund (SSNIT) ) and with the National Pension Regulatory Authority (ANRP) pension issues in the next three (3) months.

Speaking at the celebration of May 1, 2019 on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 on Black Star Square, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that the essential contribution of work to the process of production, economic growth and sustainable development demands that the dignity of work be preserved throughout the process. retirement.

"We will build a strong economy and a prosperous society when we put in place a sustainable pension plan for all workers. For far too many people, the end of their lives is marked by poverty. Too many people have no pension at all or do not have enough pension to meet the needs of old age, "said the President.

In the informal sectors of the economy, President Akufo-Addo lamented that "most people work without worrying about pension coverage and that, when they no longer have the strength to to work, their lives become miserable. "

With about 90% of workers working in the informal sector, the president said attention should be focused on extending access to this sector in line with the National Pensions Act.

"At the moment, the government's efforts to set up a cocoa farmers' pension plan are underway. This trend would be extended to other groups of workers in the informal economy, "he added.

The government, said President Akufo-Addo, is using to reduce unemployment in the country in order to expand the pension base.

"We are working on a program of economic transformation through various job creation initiatives such as" Planting for Food and Employment, "" A District, a Factory, "" An Industrial Recovery Program, " "Plantations for export and rural development", private projects. sectoral support schemes, all of which are beginning to bear fruit and should soon begin to reduce unemployment and provide citizens with opportunities for work, higher incomes and to contribute to their pensions, "he added.

Referring to the importance of the technical and vocational training (TVET) sector in youth equipment for the world of work, the Chair said that significant progress had been made

"We have funding for 21 state-of-the-art TVET centers. Parliamentary approval was given for the 34 NVTI centers to be upgraded, refurbished, upgraded programs and trained teachers, "he said.

The President added: "This also includes the construction of two new foundries and two machinery factories, as well as the completion of the NVTI headquarters. We also obtained Parliament's approval for the 10 universities and technical institutes to be re-equipped, refurbished and rehabilitated.

President Akufo-Addo encouraged government social partners, employers and business owners to comply with pension regulations and help their staff contribute to pension plans.

"We should all make known the importance of pensions and the structures in place to ensure transparent and efficient management of pension funds," he added.

Regarding the payment of arrears due to SSNIT, President Akufo-Addo said that "I am told that the Ministry of Finance has made arrangements for the payment of 200 million GH ¢ and a surety of 700 million GH for the withdrawal of arrears due to SSNIT. This will leave arrears of 800 million GH ¢, which will be included in next year's budget. "

Social Partnership Council
Reiterating the government's commitment to further consolidate its relations with social partners, in the post-IMF era, President Akufo-Addo said that a historic social partnership agreement with the organized Labor Union, represented by the Trades Union Congress, the Employers' Association of Ghana, had been signed.

This, he explained, must provide a means to create a sense of cohesion, trust, self-management, frank and open discussions in order to support development in order to realize the vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid.

"The government is committed to a new social contract that promotes social dialogue in economic management and public policy formulation. It is also to badure you, our workers and our businesses, that you are our true development partners, and your ideas are essential in my government's management and economic development model, "he added.

President Akufo-Addo further revealed that a Social Partnership Council comprising an equal number of representatives of the three social partners will soon be inaugurated.

"I am very confident that this new approach to economic management and public policy formulation will foster even greater cooperation and trust between our partners. Together, we can achieve a more stable economy, peace on the labor front and the prosperity of the good people of Ghana, "said President Akufo-Addo.