PAY YOUR WORKERS’ SSNIT OR FACE JAIL TIME – SSNIT’s JEMIMA OFORI WARNS EMPLOYERS

The Head of External Communications at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Mrs. Jemima Ofori, has reiterated that it is compulsory for every employer in Ghana to pay SSNIT contributions for their employees monthly.

According to her, the laws of Ghana mandate every employer to pay SSNIT for their workers, regardless of whether the worker is in the formal or informal sector.

Speaking in an interview with DJ Hitman on Anidaso Wo Ho Ma Obiara Morning Show on Monday, August 10, 2026, Mrs. Ofori cautioned that any employer who fails to comply could be prosecuted and face a penalty or jail term.

She has therefore urged all workers whose employers have defaulted in the payment of their SSNIT contributions to report to the nearest SSNIT office for the necessary action to be taken.

Mrs. Ofori clarified that SSNIT contributions are for every worker, including foreign nationals working in the country.

Mrs. Ofori opined that, with the exception of those who receive fat allowances whose employers may be permitted not to pay their SSNIT, those who do not receive any allowance are compulsorily entitled to have their SSNIT contributions paid at the end of every month.

She explained that enrolling on the SSNIT scheme is crucial as it serves as a relief package in times of misfortune such as death, sickness or accident that may render one incapacitated for life.

On the contribution structure, she stated that by law, every employer is required to pay 13% of the worker’s basic salary as SSNIT contribution, which should not be deducted from the worker’s salary, while 5.5% is deducted from the worker’s salary, bringing the total monthly contribution to 18.5%.

She further noted that contributors who, through accident or medical reasons are declared unfit to work by a medical doctor, are automatically placed on the SSNIT Invalidity Pension and catered for for the rest of their lives.

Similarly, she added that contributors who attain the compulsory retirement age of 60 years are automatically enrolled to receive their monthly pension for life.

STORY BY: NHYIRABA KWADWO SAMMY BEE

SOURCE: DL NEWSROOM