The number of self-employed persons enrolled into the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has doubled in the past nine months.

This follows the rollout of the Self-Employment Enrolment Drive to provide pensions and related benefits to self-employed workers.

It is in line with the Trust’s mandate to extend pension coverage to all workers, especially the self-employed.

Director-General, John Ofori-Tenkorang says the number of self-employed persons enrolled on the trust has doubled in the past nine months.

Only 1.9 million of the 10 million workers in the country are covered under the SSNIT Scheme.

Only 32,000 persons, representing just 1.68% of active contributors, are self-employed, despite the fact that the majority of workers in the country are in the informal sector.

Director-General of SSNIT, John Ofori-Tenkorang, says there is a need for the Trust to embark on aggressive marketing to attract the informal sector to sign up.

He was speaking at the launch of the Self-Employment Enrolment Drive (SEED) in Kumasi.

“We will replace your salary when you achieve the right old age of 60. If you pass on early, a survivors’ pension benefit will be paid to the people you leave behind. In the situation you become permanently invalid, you will be paid till death. If you are a member in good standing, you do not have to pay anything for health insurance renewal,” he assured. 

The Trust, he said, has measures in place to ensure prompt and easy payment of contributions.

General Secretary of the Christian Council, Rev. Dr Kwabena Opuni Frimpong, believes this will wane off the mistrust and boost confidence in the SSNIT scheme.

“Today’s statement from the Director General and Board Chair, their approach down to the informal sector, and the assurances seem to me they have opened a new page. Ghanaians must get ready to accept that. They must keep their word. Government must support them. The things people are afraid of, as they give their assurance, must be exactly so,” he said.