Accra (Greater Accra), 9 Feb. ’99 –
Mr Kwasi Ampadu Kissi, Head of Benefits of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), said yesterday that workers of the Trust who take bribes will be sacked. Reacting to allegations that staff at the Claims department are involved in fraudulent acts of bribery and corruption, he said the position of SSNIT is clearly stated in its terms of employment documents. “Our motto is to pay benefits promptly and on time. In a case in where a contributor’s claim documents delay due to technical error could be tolerated. But where it is due to underhand dealings, the authorities will have to act swiftly in disciplining the defaulting workers to save the image of the Trust and help to retain the public’s cofidence. Mr Isaac Kwadjo Obeng, an ex-Investigations Manager of SSNIT at the Adabraka District Office, had accused staff of SSNIT of being involved in “fraudulent acts of bribery and corruption.” He also called for a decentralisation of the processing of SSNIT pension claims documents. Mr Obeng, now 60 and a pensioner, said “even I, a former employee of SSNIT, registered my claim documents at the SSNIT Adabraka District Office on November 18, 1997, and for fraudulent reasons, I am yet to receive my duly earned pension benefits.” Mr Ampadu Kissi said the death of the contributor most often gives a whole lot of problems and asked members to make sure that all necessary names, numbers and addresses are clearly stated. He said the only time a contributor may be asked to pay money is when he loses his card and for which he pays only 200 cedis.
