Cocoa farmers in the Western region's Mpohor and Ahanta West Districts have hailed a pension scheme project being implemented by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The initiative, which will be launched in New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region in August 2021, would target about 800,000 registered cocoa growers who will benefit from a retirement plan to improve their lives. Farmers met separately with Mr Fiifi Boafo, COCOBOD's Head of Public Affairs, at Anomawobidi and Wassa Manso to review the modalities, registration processes, and benefits for farmers under the Cocoa Management System. Some of the farmers interviewed by the Ghana News Agency said they were "really in love" with the program, which would provide them with assistance in their old age. They wished, however, that COCOBOD would implement responsible management methods to maintain the scheme's long-term viability regardless of which administration was in power. Mr Vincent Fynn, a cocoa farmer, requested that the initiative be accompanied with a school policy that would allow farmers to acquire scholarships for their children's education. We have many bright children here, but owing to financial constraints, many of them are unable to advance in their schooling..."We desperately need guidance and assistance to break the cycle of poverty among rural farmers like myself," he remarked. Another farmer, Mr Benedict Ghansah, complained about the poor road network, lack of potable water, and lack of electricity in the Anomawobidi village, emphasizing the need for COCOBOD to fulfill their promise to help fix the problem. Mr. Boafo elaborated on the concept, saying that a 5% contribution would be removed from each bag of cocoa sold at the depot, after which the government and COCOBOD would contribute 1% to maintain the scheme. For example, if a bag of cocoa costs GHS800, 5% will pay you GHS40.00, and this is what is set aside for it to grow so that you would profit from a lump sum when you are old," he explained. 


He stated that the fund was governed by law and that no government could change it. He went on to say that the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) has already developed the mechanisms, with nine trustees in place to ensure the scheme's careful management. The purpose was to offer organized cocoa farmers with life security throughout their retirement age by providing them with year-on-year withdrawal benefits to help meet some essential needs. "At the ripe age of the scheme, each contributor is also entitled to a lump sum and monthly benefits, and we are using the cocoa registration card as the basis for membership, and you must be a cocoa farmer to benefit from the program," he explained.
Furthermore, the cocoa card will be used for the distribution of field inputs, and farmers who had not yet registered were urged to do so on time. He stated that the Tier 3 Pension Scheme was governed by Trustees to promote transparency and good governance, and he encouraged farmers to maintain the enthusiasm shown for the scheme's successful implementation.


   Customers' "anxiety and worry" should be prioritized by insurance firms.  

Mr Kwaku Appiah-Menka, Managing Director of SIC Life Insurance Limited, has advised insurance providers to make consumers' "anxiety and worry" a top priority. He stressed the importance of customer service representatives working with insurance firms and clients assuring the public that they would receive "absolute peace of mind" in whatever circumstance. Mr Appiah-Menka stated that providing such peace of mind to customers will foster the trust and confidence required in the insurance business. He made the remarks in Accra at the introduction of SIC Life's Customer Service Ambassadors and mascot "Wfa Ahot."
The ambassadors will endeavor to bridge the gap between the organization and its customers in order to produce the customer delight that the mascot represented. "At SIC Life, we take pride in being our customers' true friends for life," remarked the MD. One way we do this is by ensuring their complete peace of mind, which also serves as the company's tag line." He stated that the company had made customers a key performance driver of its operations over the years, hence the establishment of customer service ambassadors in all 26 branches to create "a customer-centric culture that makes the customer enjoy that 'absolute peace of mind' we have promised you since 2007."
"Wfa Ahot is an embodiment of that SIC Life ambassador who will help communicate and instill the importance of our four core values, which will ultimately give the customer absolute peace of mind," Mr Appiah-Menka explained. He also stated that SIC Life would deliver "absolute peace of mind" to its consumers through its four fundamental characteristics of customer focus, integrity, teamwork, and innovation. "A life free of worry and anxiety."
The Ambassadors would thus promote a cause to instill the Company's core values in workers, which would positively impact daily interactions with customers and contribute to the achievement of the Company's strategic goal for the year 2021-2024.
Mrs. Vera Kate Haizel-Cobina, SIC's Chief Operating Officer (COO), stated that the Company's four-year strategic goals had made customers a major element of its goals by building a customer-centric culture that would improve customer experience. "Customer service is not a department, but an attitude in which you can accept the fault of others as your own in order to project the image of your company," she stated, and she challenged the ambassadors to advocate such an approach.


Volta Star Textiles Management is being sued for failing to pay SSNIT contributions.

Jerome K. Dunyo, acting Managing Director of Volta Star Textiles Limited (previously Juapong Textiles), and his accountant came before a Ho Circuit Court for failing to pay workers' Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions. Dunyo and Jacinta Dekumwin Liekule (accountant) pled not guilty to failure to pay workers' contributions and a GH2.36 million penalty. The two had been granted bail for GH10,000.00 apiece with a surety.
The SSNIT prosecutor, Mr Isaac Nana Yaw Mbatini, informed the court presided over by Mr Felix Datsomor that the management of Volta Star Textiles Limited, led by its Managing Director, failed to honor the SSNIT contributions of its workers from May 2020 to June 2022. He stated that efforts to retrieve the loan had culminated in a judicial case. Mr Doe Agbenu, counsel for the accused, submitted a legal objection on the capacity of the first and second accused people, citing sections 3(1), 63(1), and 211(a) of the National Pensions Act 2008 (ACT 766) to show that the accused were not the establishment's employers.
According to him, the third accused establishment is state-owned and employed the accused. He stated that the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and hence the Ghanaian government, is the primary employer. Mr Agbenu stated that the employment of people was subject to Ministry clearance and that the accused persons could not do anything without the government's agreement and approval through the Ministry. Mr Mbatini refuted attorney Agbenu's argument by citing sections 3(1) and 211(a, b) of the National Pensions Act 2008 (ACT 766).

The prosecution contended that the Ministry, as a legal entity, appointed the accused and gave them the right and authority to hire workers and establish their pay, salaries, and other emoluments. "As a result, they are management or agents of the establishment responsible for the payment of wages, salaries, and other emoluments of the establishment, and thus responsible for the payment of social security contributions." They also made several SSNIT donations payments a few months ago without informing the officers of the Trust to the Ministry."
As a result, the prosecution urged the court to use its discretion in his favor. After granting bail to the two, Mr Datsomor ordered them to deposit a copy of their national identification with the court registry. He requested that the prosecutor file his disclosures and serve them on the defendants or their attorneys three days before the next court session. The lawsuit is therefore postponed until October 7, 2022.