BANKS DELAYING PENSION PAYMENTS (P.3) 20-01-09

Story: Kofi Yeboah
SOME commercial banks are alleged to be holding back pensions paid through them by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), thereby delaying payment to the beneficiaries, SSNIT officials have observed.
The banks allegedly create the impression that SSNIT had delayed in the payment of pensions.
The Director of Public Affairs of SSNIT, Mr Kwaku Osei-Bimpong, who made the observation, advised pensioners who experienced such problems to change the banks with whom they transacted business.
He made the comment at the annual get-together of the Retired CEPS Officers Association (RECOA) held in Accra at the weekend.
Mr Osei-Bimpong explained that monies for the payment of SSNIT pensions were sent to the banks by the first week of every month and so it was expected that by the third Thursday of the same month, the pensions would have been paid to the beneficiaries.
He advised pensioners who attained the age of 72 to fill a life certificate form to ensure the continued payment of their pension. That was because after 72 years, many people were taken to be dead.
Mr Osei-Bimpong urged workers, particularly the youth, to take a keen interest in the social security scheme and advised them to visit the SSNIT offices regularly to update their social security records.
In an address, the Commissioner of CEPS, Mr Emmanuel Nmashie Doku, commended RECOA for its steady growth in numbers over the years and the intensification of outreach programmes for sick colleagues.
“I encourage you to continue these visits to your sick colleagues. We have also made plans to register all RECOA members on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) this year, and additionally, provide free medical screening for all of you,” he assured the retired CEPS officials.
Underlining the strength in unity, Mr Doku suggested the establishment of branches of the association in Kumasi, Sunyani and in northern Ghana to cater for retired CEPS officials in those areas.
He assured RECOA members that efforts were being made to address some of their concerns, such as delays in processing certificates for their retirement benefits and to practise as Customs House Agents.
“We have already taken steps to minimise the delays in processing these certificates. We have also directed the welfare officer to strengthen the staffing of his office so as to meet the needs of retired officers in particular,” he said.
Mr Doku further promised to increase financial support for RECOA, adding that plans to put up a club house to meet the needs of serving and retired officers were on course.