NPRA Organises Outreach Programme at Asesewa
The National Pensions Regulatory Authority has organised an outreach programme at Asesewa in the Eastern Region to educate and sensitize both formal and informal sector workers on the Three Tier Pension Scheme from 18th – 23rd July, 2021. The outreach programme was specifically, to encourage the informal sector workers in the area to join and actively participate in pension schemes to alleviate old age poverty.
As part of activities for the outreach programme, a market activation was organized at the Asesewa Market. The activation was tailored towards the education on the 3-tier pension scheme with specific concentration on the informal sector. The activation also centered on the need for and importance of joining and contribution to a pension scheme by informal sector workers. After the activation, three (3) informal sector groups namely, Market Women Association, Farmers Association and Akateng Fishermen Association enrolled on a group pension scheme with a total number of 18 members.
Aside the market activation, a forum was organised for informal sector workers. The District Chief Executive Mr. Felix Ojao in his opening remarks thanked the Authority for choosing Asesewa for its outreach programme. He encouraged all the informal sector workers present to participate fully in the forum and also take advantage to join and contribute to the 3rd tier pension scheme.
The Chief Executive Officer of NPRA in his speech expressed his delight for the huge turn up of various informal sector groups and individual traders present. He thanked the various group leaders and everyone present for making time to attend the forum. He also assured them that pension funds are very secured and should they decide to join and contribute to the scheme, their monies will be well guarded and non will go missing.
Hon. Ignatius Baffuor Awuah (Minister for Employment and Labour Relations) in his remarks expressed his excitement for the massive participation of informal sector workers in the forum. He said government has been working through the NPRA to extend pension coverage to informal sector workers therefore the need to sensitize informal sector workers on pensions.
To encourage all participants to join and contribute to the scheme, the Hon. Minister enrolled 10 members selected from each informal sector group present unto a personal pension scheme and paid for a year’s contribution for each.
Over 400 informal sector workers participated in the forum and a total of 31 people were enrolled on the pension scheme.