Harry Zakour In Trouble
A Board member of Accra Hearts Oak football club and owner of Bus Stop Restaurant, Harry Zakour, has been hauled before an Accra Weekend Court for failing to pay the Social Security contributions of his workers at the restaurant.
The accused person owes Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) GH¢ 7,238.14, which includes penalty for failing to pay the contributions of his workers.
He is to be charged for failing to pay the contributions of his workers and the penalty on the arrears he owes SSNIT, the complainant in this case.
Zakour, who was not in court, sent a representative to pray the court presided over by Mrs. Georgina Mensah-Datsa to adjourn the case as he was not well and had been flown to South Africa for treatment.
The case had been adjourned to September 6, 2008.
The facts of the matter prepared by SSNIT's prosecutor, Frank Asamoah Damptey, are that Bus Stop Restaurant which is located at Ring Road Central in Accra is registered with SSNIT; and the accused person, as required by law, is to pay the contributions of his workers at the end of every month.
According to the facts, it was detected between the period of April 2007 and June 2008 that the employer had declined to pay the social security contributions of his workers to the tune of GH¢7, 238.14.
The arrears were detected when inspectors from SSNIT, on their routine checks on organizations, went to the restaurant and looked into its wages book.
The facts are that the actual arrears owed the complainant is GH¢5786.41 while GH¢1,451.73 is the three percent penalty for delayed payment.
The prosecutor noted that a demand letter was subsequently issued on July 25, 2008 prompting the accused person to pay his arrears, but he failed to respond, hence the legal action.
In a related development, Emmanuel Koomson, the proprietor of Snaps Kindergarten and School, who owes SSNIT an amount of GH¢186,681.82, was also dragged to court and convicted.
The accused person accepted liability for his inability to pay the contributions of his workers and the penalty which had accrued as a result of his inability to pay the actual arrears.
The trial Judge, Mrs. Datsa, subsequently convicted him to a fine of GH¢186,681.82, being the amount and penalties he owes SSNIT; or spend 12 months in jail for failing to pay the contributions of his workers and another 12 months for not paying the penalties.
Both statements would run concurrently.
The prosecuting officer, Mr. Damptey, who presented the facts of the case, told the court that Snaps School, which is an educational institute, is registered with the scheme of the complainant and is located at Asylum Down.
According to him, inspectors from SSNIT detected he owed the said arrears between June 2007 and May 2008 when they went to the institute to look into its wages book.