It was as far back as 2008 that I decided to call it quits with regular jobs and consequently took an early pension.

The daily commuting from one end of Accra to Tema, where my office was, and back late at night was taking a toll on me. The reckless driving and pedestrians crossing the busy motorway, resulting in frequent accidents, were too disturbing.

Eighteen years on, I have never regretted my decision, having put my health and safety first and knowing that my Social Security pension would take care of me every month, despite the lower pension for early retirement. 

After all, I had the energy, strength and experience to balance it with consultancy work.

Today, in the wake of the hue and cry from some cocoa farmers, with the slash in cocoa prices, pensioners on the SSNIT scheme have a cause to smile, not on pension increments but other welfare support - a progressive welfare initiative which the Trust says they are intending to introduce.

Welfare packages

According to the Director General (DG) of SSNIT, Kwesi Afreh Biney, the current management has plans to introduce some welfare packages that will enhance the status of pensioners across the country beyond monthly pensions.

During an engagement with pensioners in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, recently, the Director General (DG) broached the topic of value-added preferential rates at some facilities, which they thought would benefit pensioners on the scheme.

The DG hinted that discussions with the relevant service providers had reached an advanced stage to ensure the initiative's seamless operationalisation.

Truth be told, for the 18 years since joining the scheme, SSNIT has never disappointed with its timely monthly benefit payments. For that reason alone, one can confidently say that the progressive welfare initiative being promised by the Scheme is achievable; it is only a matter of time.

The welfare of any worker who, for 20 years or more, has contributed in terms of consistent monthly deductions to help build the nation should be a matter of priority to managers of a pension scheme.

At the top of one’s mind, one could suggest a few doable welfare programmes that could enhance the lives of once active workers who now find themselves confined to their homes.

Programmes

Welfare programmes such as gymnasiums cannot be overemphasised.  Doctors advise that exercises and a few body movements that build muscle and condition the joints and heart are beneficial for the aged. 

Already, SSNIT has a well-equipped public gymnasium in Accra that could be put at the service of its willing pensioners on specific days, once or twice a month.

Similar fitness centres could be built in other parts of the country, with open access for its pensioners who would want to incorporate exercise into their regular routines, whether for free or at subsidised rates. 

Not only that, SSNIT can invest in day care centres with eateries and other activities, where pensioners can pay at subsidised rates to spend quality time out of the house and bond with like-minded people.  

Such centres could have additional facilities such as indoor and outdoor games, health clinics and occasionally arranged talks on health and wellness.

Indeed, there are already private facilities around the country that SSNIT can partner with and put to the benefit of its pensioners at subsidised rates.

It is good news that SSNIT has clinics scattered across the country. Such clinics should be able to give quality care, including annual health checks, to their pensioners at subsidised rates. That way, annual check-ups become encouraged, especially in pensioners who might think the cost is beyond them.

Thankfully, ours, to some degree, is a society where children and grandchildren would like to support their parents and grandparents in enjoying a quality of life as they focus on their busy work schedules. One should not underestimate the support that adult children, home and abroad, would readily provide to their aged parents if the necessary facilities were in place.

Many would channel the regular foreign remittances they send home directly to such facilities if and only if they would be used justifiably as intended.

One would want to believe that the managers of SSNIT would not run out of ideas if they are well-intentioned and seek to add to and extend welfare programmes to support their pensioners in living well.

Nothing ventured, they say, is nothing gained. We should all throw our weight behind the laudable welfare programmes the current managers of the scheme are intending.

What a way to enjoy the direct benefits of one’s toils.

Indeed, such welfare programmes, in addition to monthly payments, should encourage those outside the scheme to join. For those who do not want to see their health in old age taken care of, especially if it is coming as part of their active life contributions.

Kudos to SSNIT for thinking out of the box for the benefit of its contributors. May they never run out of ideas.

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The writer can be contacted via email at vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com