SSNIT encourage residents of Wa to enroll on SEED to secure their future

Over the weekend, the management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) launched a public awareness campaign in the Wa Municipality to promote the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) initiative.

This campaign aims to encourage self-employed workers to save for their pensions by enrolling in the SSNIT scheme.

The SEED initiative, launched in May 2023, seeks to bring self-employed individuals into the SSNIT scheme. By contributing 13.5% of their income, participants can potentially receive up to 60% of their income as pension benefits once they qualify. So far, over 100,000 self-employed individuals have joined the scheme, and the number continues to grow.

The campaign, dubbed "Operation-A-Thon," featured a float through the Wa Municipality, with participants carrying placards promoting the benefits of SSNIT.

Messages included: "Join SSNIT and get a free health insurance package," "Safeguard your future with no extra costs," "Save now and enjoy tomorrow," and "The only pension scheme that provides you with an invalidity pension." A brass band accompanied the float, adding to the event's festive atmosphere.

SSNIT also set up information desks at the local market to engage more self-employed workers and educate them about the benefits of the scheme. Flyers were distributed to the public, explaining how to enroll and the importance of saving for retirement.

To qualify for the SEED program, self-employed individuals between the ages of 15 and 45 can enroll in the scheme, deciding how much to contribute and how often. This flexibility allows them to access funds during retirement or in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Many residents expressed their appreciation for SSNIT's efforts to include self-employed workers in the retirement plan. Some noted that the initiative would help protect them from fraudulent private financial schemes, while others suggested that the drive should be made compulsory to ensure all non-government workers contribute toward their future.

For years, self-employed workers have been vulnerable to unreliable private financial schemes, and many see the SSNIT initiative as a more secure option. The campaign is seen as a crucial step toward reducing retirement-related stress and improving the overall well-being of self-employed individuals in Ghana.

Speaking to the media, Mrs. Victoria Gifty Abaidoo, Acting Corporate Affairs Manager of SSNIT, emphasized that the campaign is part of a nationwide effort to reach more self-employed individuals and encourage them to join the SSNIT scheme.

"We are bringing the self-employed into the SSNIT scheme because we care for every worker in this country. Every worker, having worked so hard and retired, deserves to retire on a good income," she said.

She further explained that the welfare of all Ghanaians is a priority for SSNIT, and the SEED initiative aims to ensure that every Ghanaian worker, including those in the informal sector, can benefit from a secure retirement package.