The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has made a significant move by extending its basic social security scheme to cover self-employed individuals, who were previously not required by law to participate.
The newly repackaged First Tier Scheme, now known as Self-employed Enrollment Drive(SEED), encourages self-employed workers to contribute based on their full earnings in exchange for a guaranteed pension, along with other benefits.
In a presentation on maximizing digital platforms to enhance contribution collection and payment, Manager in charge of SEED at SSNIT, Richard Manu emphasized the importance of supporting the programme.
He explained that the scheme aims to ensure self-employed workers have a secure source of income during old age or in the event of permanent disability, reduce the over-reliance on family and friends by those without SSNIT benefits, and alleviate destitution in Ghanaian society.
As of August 31, 2024, SEED had registered 114,983 members and collected contributions totaling GHS 61,686,313.55.
