Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has issued a stern warning to the newly inaugurated Board of Trustees of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), urging them to resist any pressure to sell State assets to politically exposed persons.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony in Accra, Dr. Forson cautioned the Board to uphold the public interest in all investment decisions and avoid repeating past mistakes that have raised concerns about the stewardship of pension funds.
“Please do not sell state assets to politicians,” the Minister said emphatically. “The President will not accept it, and as your sector Minister, I will be the first to oppose it.”
His comments come at a time when scrutiny has intensified over SSNIT’s investment decisions, including attempts to divest stakes in key national assets.
The Finance Minister stressed that such actions must be guided strictly by value for money, transparency, and the long-term interest of pension contributors.
Dr. Forson reminded the Board that SSNIT is a national institution every Ghanaian worker will depend on during retirement, and therefore its leadership must be accountable to the public.
“The people of Ghana have entrusted their pension investments into your care. Be mindful that you are investing our future, our monies, and our everything,” he said.
He further encouraged the board to diversify its investment portfolio, noting that SSNIT was “too heavy on real estates” and needed to explore alternative, profitable sectors.
The new Board of Trustees, chaired by Nana Ansah Sasraku III, pledged to manage the Fund’s resources with integrity and foresight.
On Tuesday June 3, Dr. Ato Forson told Parliament that all statutory funds due for the first quarter of 2025 have been fully and promptly disbursed.
“I’m pleased to report that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, and the NDC, for the first time in several months, transfers to all Statutory Funds have been made promptly and in full. Mr. Speaker, we have not just made them but also in full,” the Finance Minister added.
Dr. Ato Forson noted that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has received a total of GH¢2,710,227,947 for the first quarter—covering January, February, and March—to address challenges facing the Free Senior High School (SHS) project.
“Similarly, the GETFUND has received a total of two billion, seven hundred and ten million, two hundred and twenty-seven thousand nine hundred and forty-seven Ghana cedis, for the months of January, February and March. All transferred and received by the GETFUND,” he stated.
On the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Dr. Forson announced that GH¢2,033,469,607 has been disbursed for the same period.
“Notably, all transfers due to the NHI fund for the period covering January, February and March have been paid in full. A total amount of two billion, thirty-three million, four hundred and sixty-nine thousand, six hundred and seven Ghana cedis has been disbursed to the NHI fund, and they have received the funds,” he told the House.
He added that the timely release of funds has enabled the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to settle arrears owed to healthcare providers and support key initiatives such as the Free Primary Healthcare programme and the Ghana Medical Care Trust Programme, also known as MahamaCares.
“These disbursements have enabled the NHI Scheme to settle arrears owed to health care providers and to implement the free primary healthcare and the Ghana Medical Care Trust Programme otherwise known as MahamaCares,” Dr. Ato Forson said.
