February 2025
10Feb

Youth Climate Council Ghana rejects Parliament’s plan to use carbon funds for MPs’ pensions

The Youth Climate Council Ghana (YCC) has strongly condemned a recent proposal by Parliament to fund Members of Parliament’s (MPs) pension schemes using revenue from the country’s carbon credit market. The youth-led organisation has labelled the move as a direct violation of Ghana’s climate commitments and a dangerous misallocation of resources meant for sustainability initiatives. It has therefore asked Parliament to revoke the proposal and prioritise long-term environmental and economic sustainability over short-term political convenience. According to YCC, diverting carbon finance...

February 10, 2025
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05Feb

Pension funds must be invested beyond Ghana — Ecobank CIO

CHIEF Investment Officer for Wealth and Asset Management at Ecobank, Emmanuel Owusu, has called for room to enable pension fund managers to diversify their investment portfolios beyond the shores of the country. Consequently, he advocated a regulatory shift to allow pension fund managers to explore opportunities in international markets, arguing that diversification was crucial for long-term growth. He was speaking at the 3rd Annual Forecast Dinner and Charter Recognition Ceremony organised by CFA Society Ghana, which brought together financial experts, policymakers...

February 5, 2025
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January 2025
07Jan

Ghana. SSNIT announces 12% increase in monthly pension payments

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has announced a 12% increase in monthly pension payments, in line with its annual inflation adjustment. This increment follows consultations with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and adheres to the guidelines outlined in Section 80 of the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766). All eligible pensioners who were on the SSNIT pension payroll as of December 31, 2024, will receive the 12% increase in their monthly pension payments starting this year. The adjustment...

January 7, 2025
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November 2024
19Nov

Ghana blocks pension funds from offshore investment on currency concerns, sources say

Ghana is clamping down on private pension fund managers who want to invest in offshore assets on concerns it could worsen pressure on its cedi currency, three industry sources told Reuters. After pension reforms in 2010, workers' retirement contributions in the world's number two cocoa producer enjoyed strong growth, buoyed by a tiered scheme that allow private firms to manage some contributions. Assets under management by the pension fund industry were 78.2 billion Ghanaian cedis ($4.93 billion) in June, of which...

November 19, 2024
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October 2024
30Oct

8.1 Million Ghanaian workers not covered by pension scheme – Prof. Abdallah Mashud

The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Retirement Research (ACRR), Professor Abdallah Mashud, has disclosed that as of last year, 2023, approximately 8.1 million Ghanaian workers were not covered by any form of pension scheme. Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Tuesday, October 28, 2024, with Benjamin Akakpo, the renowned social security expert described the situation as problematic. He was discussing the 2024 pension manifesto of the two major political parties: the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party...

October 30, 2024
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23Oct

Ghana. SSNIT partners with academia to shape the future of pensions

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has organised a stakeholder engagement forum dubbed the SSNITposium, under the theme "Building a Knowledge-Based SSNIT Scheme", aimed at shaping the future of the SSNIT Scheme. The event brought together experts from academia, professional associations, and the pensions industry to share insights and foster collaboration on improving the Scheme. The Director-General of SSNIT, Mr. Kofi Osafo-Maafo, acknowledged the need for more public engagement and transparency regarding the Scheme. Referring to the International Labour Organization's...

October 23, 2024
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07Oct

Ghana. Authority to educate on pensions in churches.

The National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has marked what they call 'Pension Sunday'—a special day devoted to enlightening church congregations and the broader public about the significance of investing in their future through pension schemes. In recent years, the NPRA, the regulatory body overseeing Ghana's three-tier pension system, has significantly intensified its advocacy efforts, particularly targeting the informal sector. "Our goal is simple," stressed Mr. John Mbroh, Chief Executive Officer of the NPRA, "we want everyone, especially those in the informal...

October 7, 2024
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September 2024
10Sep

Ghana. NPRA press releases on informal sector pensions: Matters arising

There are two press releases circulating on Informal Sector Pensions dated 26/08/2024 and 30/08/2024 issued by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), bringing to the attention of the general public that informal sector pensions already exist. In the 30/08/2024 press release, the NPRA directly linked informal sector workers to self-employed persons, stating: “…the new Pensions law has offered opportunities for self-employed persons (informal sector workers) to voluntarily contribute towards their pensions. Additionally, the NPRA associated Personal Pension Schemes with the informal...

September 10, 2024
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August 2024
20Aug

Ghana. Government, CETAG reach agreement: strike resolution imminent

The Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG) has reached a tentative agreement with the government following successful negotiations on Monday (19 August). The meeting included representatives from MELRP, the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the Principals of Colleges of Education (PRINCOF), and CETAG. During the talks, the government agreed to unfreeze CETAG members’ July salaries, provided the association calls off its two-month-long strike, which has disrupted...

August 20, 2024
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July 2024
30Jul

Ghana’s Constitutional Conundrum: A call for reform

By Joseph Bagah   Ghana’s constitutional framework has been a subject of concern, and a lot of brainstorming has gone on for many years. The practice where Members of Parliament (MPs) play dual roles or serve multiple positions as Ministers has raised questions about whether conflict of interest situations do not arise and the lines between Legislative and Executive blurred. This concentration of power has resulted in a lack of accountability and transparency in governance perpetuating a system where those who...

July 30, 2024
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