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Henry Dei Recreational Centre Osu, Accra

National Pensioners Association (SSNIT) logo National Pensioners Association (SSNIT) Honesty & Hardwork Become a member

About the Association

History, vision and mission, objectives, and organisational structure of the National Pensioners Association (SSNIT).

Regulatory framework

Overview of the constitution

The first constitution of the association was drafted in 1996. There was a review of that constitution in 2016 in Shama and 2022 in Dodowa. The subsequent constitutions do not differ in substance from the original constitution but have had additional provisions that take care of current needs and exigencies of the association. The need to have a constitution is captured in the preamble of the new constitution.

Article 3(C)

  1. Vision: To promote and protect quality standard of living for pensioners in Ghana.
  2. Mission: To seek partnership and co-operation for the best interest of pensioners with the following institutions.

The aims of the Association

  1. To promote the welfare of members.
  2. Assist members financially or in kind in case of bereavement or in any reasonable capacity.
  3. Promote and encourage the foundation of cooperation and other economic ventures owned wholly or partially by the association.

In 2011 the association was given certificate to operate as a private company limited by guarantee on the 15th day of April 2011 under the name SSNIT National Pensioners Association. By a special resolution passed by council on the 26th day of June 2015, the name of the association was changed from SSNIT National Pensioners Association to National Pensioners Association (SSNIT).

Membership benefits

  1. Payment of death benefits to dependents of members upon proof.
  2. Assisting members to access loan facilities from banks.
  3. Payment of partial hospital bills for members over ailments common to old age.

Membership and roles of executives at different levels

Membership of the association is hereby open to all retired workers of various institutions and organizations who are on the payroll of the SSNIT pension scheme upon registration.

Registration

A pensioner may join the association by being duly registered at the nearest local branch of the association after satisfying the following conditions.

Article 6: Funds / finances

Risk allowance: Risk allowances to be determined by the national executive council shall be paid to the following owing to the enormous risk associated with the nature of their routine work:

  1. National Officers
  2. Representatives of the National Executive Council
  3. Regional Officers
  4. An Officer on an assignment for and on behalf of the association

This provision is to help you see that in any assignment undertaken for the association, your safety is guaranteed.

National structure

  • National Delegates Conference (NDC)
  • National Executive Council (NEC)
  • Management Committee, which shall comprise:
    • National Officers
    • Finance Committee
    • Educational Committee
    • Pensioners Medical Scheme (PMS)

Article 10: National officers

The national officers of the association shall be:

  1. National Chairman
  2. National Vice Chairman
  3. General Secretary
  4. Deputy General Secretary
  5. Treasurer (with accounting background)
  6. National Women Organizer
  1. The general secretary shall be the chief executive of the association responsible for directing, controlling and supervising.
  2. The national officers shall meet regularly to:
    1. Review the work of the association.
    2. Formulate policies for the association.
  3. National officers shall hold office for four (4) consecutive years and shall be eligible to contest for re-election subject to good work and satisfactory conduct and shall be elected into office at national delegates conference.

Any vacancy occurring at any time shall be filled through appointment within a period of one month by the Management Committee.

National Chairman

  1. Be a full-time officer.
  2. Preside over all meetings including the national delegates conference.
  3. Be responsible for the proper and efficient conduct of business at meetings and conferences as well as to ensure compliance with the provisions of the constitution, internal regulations and any other rules and orders of the association.
  4. Perform all such functions assigned him under this constitution.
  5. Have a casting vote at meetings.
  6. Shall attend to and or direct correspondence meant for his attention to the appropriate officers for action.

National Vice-Chairman

  1. Act in the absence of the national chairman.
  2. Perform all such functions as assigned him under this constitution with a supervising responsibility of all standing committees of the association.
  3. Chairman of the education committee.
  4. Has direct oversight of management of PMS.

General Secretary

  1. A full-time officer.
  2. The chief executive officer shall be responsible for the general and day to day administration of the association.
  3. Responsible for the financial administration of the association.
  4. Lead in discussion at all meetings in accordance with the constitution.
  5. Prepare and submit reports on the activities of the association to the following:
    1. Management committee
    2. National delegates conference (NDC)
    3. National executive council (NEC)
  6. Responsible for all protocols and public relations of the association.

Deputy General Secretary

  1. The deputy chief executive officer shall assist the general secretary in the discharge of all his functions and duties.
  2. Responsible to take minutes at national delegates conferences and council meetings and any other gatherings of the association.
  3. Act in the absence of the general secretary.

National Treasurer

  1. Be a full-time officer.
  2. Be responsible for the safe-keeping of the association funds.
  3. Receive, collect and account for monies on behalf of the association and shall issue receipts to that effect.
  4. Pay into the bank account of the association monies received in (c) above.
  5. Keep and maintain proper books of the accounts.
  6. Be responsible for writing cheques on behalf of the association.
  7. Make entries in the cash book.
  8. Prepare the association's account for auditing annually and submit them to management.
  9. Draw up the association's annual budget for consideration by the finance committee and national executive council.
  10. Prepare the monthly reconciliation statement.

National Women's Organiser

  1. Be responsible for the mobilization of all female members of the association into formidable groups at all the locals for social and economic activities.
  2. Be responsible for the co-ordination of the functions of the regional women organizers.

Duties at the various levels

  1. Locals recruit members in addition to visit and payment of benefits.
  2. District to supervise the locals.
  3. Regions to organize district council meetings.
  4. The chairman of the association at any level shall preside over disciplinary committee hearings and or proceedings. (Article 15: discipline (f(e)))
  5. The general secretary presents report to congress but these reports are compilation of reports from the districts to the regionals and to the national level. As executives at various levels, how do you make sure that there is prompt reporting to the regions and the nationals.
  6. Organize elections at the district and local levels when they are due.
  7. Submit reports from local to district, district to regional and regional to national.
  8. Undertake membership drive at all levels to recruit new members.
  9. Administer PMS at different levels.
  10. Train your locals.
  11. Create regional and district WhatsApp groups.

Article 19: Miscellaneous

  1. Where this constitution does not make specific provision for any rules, practices, procedures or otherwise, the national executive council or national delegates conference shall be vested with authority to adapt general principles, i.e. rules and procedures applicable for the discharge.

Article 11: Standing committees

  1. Finance committee
  2. Educational committee
  3. Pensioners Medical Scheme

Pensioners Medical Scheme (PMS)

The Association shall operate a scheme known as the Pensioners Medical Scheme (PMS).

  1. The scheme shall be headed by the National Vice Chairman.
  2. The scheme shall be financed by the contributions of members, contributions and donations from organizations and individuals among others.
  3. The scheme shall be operated and managed by the management committee of the association.
  4. Management shall be responsible for the overall well-being of the scheme including engagement of a health service provider for the successful operation of the scheme.
  5. The scheme shall be supplemental to national health insurance.
  6. Members of the association shall be beneficiaries of the scheme and may apply for the payment of their medical bills where the national health insurance does not cover same.
  7. For the efficient operation of the scheme a member of the association may be issued a PMS identity card upon completion of a PMS form to that effect.
  8. PMS ID cards may be used by a beneficiary to access benefits under the scheme.
  9. Management may enact rules and policy guidelines to regulate the operations of the scheme to the benefit.