SSNIT blows workers money on Black Stars
Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw Owusu
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Social Security and
National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) spent a whopping GH¢1million (¢10 billion) of
workers contributions on the supporters of the senior national team, Black Stars
during Ghana’s participation at World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
SSNIT, which
struggles to pay workers pension was the highest contributor in terms of amount
donated to support the football fans for the mundial.
The Sports Ministry
under Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, then Minister solicited over GH¢4.5million from
corporate bodies to send football fans mostly NDC foot-soldiers to watch the
football tournament in Brazil.
The Justice Senyo
Dzemefe Commission which investigated Ghana’s participation in Brazil 2014
World Cup, recorded SSNIT as making its contribution on May 2, 2014 and the
highest on the list of corporate sponsors for the football fans ferried to the
tournament.
Interestingly, in
recent time SSNIT reportedly resorted to deducting salaries of its staff in
order to present to the victims of the June 3, floods and fire as part of
efforts to fulfill its corporate social responsibility.
It is reported that
after bad investments of workers’ contributions over the years, the state-owned
company is allegedly struggling with cash and that has compelled them to resort
to deducting staff salaries to meet some of its social responsibility
commitments.
Reports say some
large chunk of staff are poorly paid and many have been on the same grade for
about six years with management not knowing what to do.
The latest revelation
in the Dzamafe report is said to be causing anger among staff of the Trust who
described management action as misplaced priority.
The recent biometric
exercise initiated by the Trust is in limbo because poor management.
Struggling Institutions
Interestingly almost
all the state institutions that are struggling with cash to make an impact on
national development paid huge amounts to support the football fans.
For instance, Volta
River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and Electricity Company of
Ghana (ECG) who are all struggling to solve the protracted power crisis known
as dumsor due to lack of funds as well as the Ghana Aids Commission which does
not have money to even buy anti-retroviral drugs for HIV-AIDS patients managed
to find money to give to the Black Stars.
The VRA paid a total
of GH¢53,500 on two separate dates while GRIDCo and ECG donated GH¢50,000 each and
AIDS Commission also paid GH¢3,500.
Agricultural
Development Bank (adb) which has been rocked by recent union agitation and the Bank
of Ghana which is struggling to tame the rise of the cedi against major
currencies donated GH¢250,000 each while Metro Mass Transit whose performance
has been limited due to lack of cash paid GH¢1,235.
The Ghana Commercial
Bank (GCB) donated GH¢300,000 while SIC Life donated GH¢100,000 according to
the report.
No comments:
Post a Comment