The Acting Public Affairs Manager of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Charles Akwei Garshong, says despite popular opinion that the SSNIT is meant for the formally employed, everyone in every facet of the economy can benefit from the Trust.

According to him, people regardless of their occupation get to a point in their lives when they can no longer work - be it old age or being rendered invalid because of an illness or accident - and would need money for their upkeep.

Hence workers in both the formal and informal sectors including traders and the self-employed are advised to sign up for SSNIT, Mr. Garshong said on The Law on JoyNews on Sunday.

He explained that “the SSNIT scheme is open to all workers, the law is clear on that. It applies to employees and the self-employed. So you probably might be a consultant, a legal practitioner, an architect, an Uber driver or coconut seller, you have the right to join the scheme and enjoy the benefits of the scheme as any other worker.”

Mr. Garshong added that, “so the one who sells at Makola can simply walk into the SSNIT office and say ‘I want to register because I see myself becoming old someday or I cannot continue doing the work I am doing, or I foresee that anything could happen to me’.”

He said to ensure people contribute and enjoy the SSNIT benefits as and when they should, it is important to ensure they contribute religiously to their account and not default in payments.

The Public Affairs Manager added that SSNIT would embark on a campaign in April, 2022, to educate the masses about the scheme, how they operate and their importance.

"This is to break the myth that SSNIT is for only a section of the people and ensure that a wider range of people, including musicians and creatives apply for the scheme."

“So this year we are rolling out a campaign because a lot of people in the private sector or the self-employed, the celebrities and all that, have this perception that SSNIT is for only employees of formal sectors but that is not the case. SSNIT is for all of us, we all have the same risk of becoming old or losing our regular jobs through accidents or any other means,” Mr. Garshong said.