The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) office in Takoradi has hauled the Ghana Railways Corporation (GRC) and its Managing Director, Michael Adjei Anyetei, to court over the nonpayment of social security contributions for railway workers, amounting to GH¢4.13 million.
The Circuit Court presided over by Judge Araba Nunoo, issued an arrest warrant for the managing director following a request from SSNIT Prosecutor Ann-Marie Annan for a bench warrant.
Case Details
The prosecutor informed the court that between December 2022 and April 2024, the Railway Corporation failed to pay the social security contributions for its staff at the Takoradi office, totalling GH¢4.126 million. This failure is considered an offence under the National Pensions Act, 2008 (ACT 766).
“Failing to pay social security contributions contrary to Section 83 (1)(d)(h) of the National Pensions Act, 2008 (ACT 766) as amended by Section 7 of the National Pensions (Amendment) ACT 2014 (ACT 883) is an offence,” the prosecution stated.
Ms. Annan added that the first accused, the Managing Director of GRC, and the second accused, the corporation itself, headquartered at Takoradi Harbour, did not comply with the provisions of the act.
Inspection Findings
She also added that an inspection by Trust officers at the second accused’s establishment revealed that as of April 2024, the GRC had not paid the required contributions.
The prosecutor stated that SSNIT sent demand letters to the accused parties, requesting a meeting between the Trust and the corporation’s management to discuss terms of settlement for the debt. However, they did not respond.
“Officers of the Trust subsequently visited the premises of the Ghana Railways Corporation on two occasions in an attempt to engage the management of the corporation and also retrieve a part of their indebtedness,” Ms Annan told the court.
Despite these efforts, the attempts to resolve the issue amicably were unsuccessful, leading to the issuance of a criminal summons for the first and second accused to appear in court.
Due to their failure to appear, a bench warrant for the arrest of the managing director was issued. The case has been adjourned to July 8, 2024.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
