The Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG) has expressed worry over government quest to place Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) under the financial services division of the Ministry of Finance.
CLOGSAG in this regard says if such anomaly continues to persist, it will not only petition the speaker of Parliament but use other legitimate channels to stop the practice.
The Executive Secretary of the Association, Isaac Bampoe Addo made this known at the 2021 virtual May Day Celebration and Thanksgiving Service at the Nathan Quao auditorium in Accra.
He said the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766) and Occupational and Pensions Schemes (General) regulations, 2011 (L.I. 1990) clearly and transparently shows that the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations is the substantive Minister of Pensions hence the Finance Ministry have no mandate to deal with issues relating to worker’s SSNIT.
“Any supervisory role the Ministry of Finance is playing in relation to SSNIT pensions apart from determining allowances for Board members and committee members is not supported by Act 766 and therefore anomalous or illegal,” he said.
On issues relating to the participation of civil servants in partisan politics, Mr. Addo said the Association have engaged the Supreme Court to seek interpretation and turned out that in the said ruling civil servant staff of the Assemblies cannot engage in partisan politics in any form.
“Against this background, CLOGSAG have embarked on a neutrality programme to educate civil servants, loyalty and readiness to serve any government of the day to minimize interference from government appointees in the Civil and Local Government Services,” he said.
He added that the Association initiated the Nathan Quao awards to recognize members who have lifted the banner of neutrality, and explained however that CLOGSAG strongly believes that neutrality must be the foundation of our local governance systems and structure.
CLOGSAG also used the occasion to pray and give thanks to the Lord God Almighty for the unified front of the Association through prayers and songs of praise as the Resident Pastor, Rev. Adebisi Bayo gave sermon and offered prayers for the labour unions across the country.
In a related development, the Association commissioned its technology shop on the premises to afford members of the opportunity to purchase technological equipments via online on flexible terms.