SSNIT saved the country over GH¢320 million
An amount of over GH¢320 million in savings has been raked in by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) as part of its efforts to rid the pension books of ghost names.
Being the foremost pensions fund in the country, SSNIT has been struggling with the challenge of ghost names on its roll over the years.
Director General of SSNIT, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang during an appearance before the Public Accounts Committee, said steps are being taken to sustain the drive.
“Since we started this exercise in 2018, we have withheld over GH¢320 million that would have gone to pensioners who may have died after they had exhausted their guaranteed pension entitlements. This means that every year, pensioners reach out to SSNIT and get biometrically verified.”
In all, 6,339 ghost names were cleared from the scheme’s payroll.
“To ensure that payment of funds to deceased pensioners aged 72 years and above, under PNDCL 247 and those aged 75 years and above under Act 766 ceases, all pensioners within the stated age categories are required by policy to complete a pensioner certificate every year to confirm they are alive.”
“Those who do not complete the certificates are deemed not to be alive and have their names deleted from the pensions payroll,” Dr Ofori Tenkorang added.
