Editor-In-Chief of digital newspaper Whatsup News, David Tamakloe, has appealed to the Government to make the needed changes in the management of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
According to him, that is the only way to ensure efficiency in the running of the state company.
His appeal comes at the back of the recent news that a former Director-General of SSNIT, Ernest Thompson, together with four others were accused of causing financial loss of over $14.8 million in a controversial purchase of an Operational Business Suite (OBS) for SSNIT.
Mr. Tamakloe noted that since time immemorial, investments made by the state company has yielded no results to contributors and as such, drastic measures need to be taken now.
Speaking to Raymond Nyamador on the special Editors’ Take edition of the Happy Morning Show, he shared: “Since we heard of SSNIT and its operations, it has been that the image has not been good. And I dare say that, but for some of these issues that have popped up at SSNIT, all this while, the workers’ pension and reward from their work and contribution should be much more for them to benefit from SSNIT.
Issues surrounding the OBS System for example has been very bad. In the past, they [SSNIT] have made investments that have yielded no positive result. And the country has lost a lot of money. The managers have over the years not demonstrated good management of the fund”.
Based on these Mr. Tamakloe advised, “Government must pay good attention to SSNIT and ensure that they put efficient people there to manage the funds to bring results to those who contribute to SSNIT”.
Background
The former Director-General and his team were accused of causing financial loss of more than $14.8 million in the purchase of the SSNIT Operational Business Suite (OBS) project. The five were charged with willfully causing financial loss to the state, conspiracy to commit the crime, defrauding by false pretences in contravention of the public procurement act and authoring of forged documents.
However, the Supreme Court on Wednesday discharged former Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson, together with four others, describing the charges levelled against them as inappropriate.
Meanwhile, the President of the Court, Justice Appau, has charged the Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisah, to re-look at the charges and provide enough particulars to them.
The State is thus amending charges against former Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson, and four others.
The case has been adjourned to April 22.