An audit of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has revealed widespread encroachment on nine undeveloped parcels of land owned by the pension fund, valued at GH¢851.3 million, raising serious concerns about asset protection and institutional control.

The findings, contained in the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, showed that SSNIT’s lands in Accra, Kasoa, Kumasi, Ho, Wa, and Koforidua have either been fully or partially taken over by private individuals and developers — in some cases, leaving no trace of SSNIT’s original ownership.

The audit identified 3,161.25 acres of SSNIT lands affected by encroachment. The most heavily impacted are the Bortianor (1,278.68 acres), Akweley Nkwanta (640 acres), and Odupong Ofankor (500 acres) sites in the Greater Accra Region, all of which have been fully encroached.

“Our inspection at Bortianor and Odupong lands at West Hills and Kasoa respectively, confirmed that people have fully encroached and occupied these lands,” the report stated.

Other sites at Wa, Dunkonah, Klagon (Nungua), Ho, and Akwadum have suffered partial encroachment. Meanwhile, a 3.93-acre parcel at Adum in Kumasi, valued at GH¢9.8 million, remains unregistered in SSNIT’s name, exposing it to potential ownership disputes.

The Auditor General warned that SSNIT risks losing the affected lands entirely to encroachers if immediate corrective measures are not taken. The report noted that reclaiming these properties could attract high legal costs, with potential consequences for the Trust’s cash flow and investment capacity.

“The above situation could result in the loss of SSNIT lands to encroachers. The Trust may also incur legal costs in efforts to reclaim the encroached lands,” it stressed, citing breaches of Section 52 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), which obligates public entities to protect their assets from theft, loss, or misuse.

In its response, SSNIT said it had initiated a comprehensive land management strategy aimed at reclaiming and securing its properties.
According to management, measures include fencing, construction of security posts, and installation of boundary pillars at strategic sites.

“Steps are being taken to regularise the titles of the lands. Management was executing a full strategy on SSNIT lands... almost all lands to be secured have been fenced,” SSNIT said in response to the audit findings.

The Trust added that the strategy, approved by its Board of Trustees at the 364th and 365th meetings held in March and April 2023, is part of efforts to ensure the protection of public assets under its control.

The Auditor-General recommended that SSNIT regularise ownership of all affected lands and take legal action where necessary to reclaim them. It further urged management to institute stronger control mechanisms to prevent future encroachments and asset losses.