The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has honoured Ghana’s oldest female pensioner, Ima Zenabu Dagomba, as she marked her 100th birthday, using the occasion to promote retirement planning and encourage greater pension enrolment, particularly among workers in the informal sector.
Madam Dagomba, who turned 100 on July 1, has been receiving her monthly SSNIT pension since March 1993, making her one of the Trust’s longest-serving beneficiaries.
She retired on January 31, 1992, and has remained on the SSNIT pension payroll for 33 years and four months.
The centenary celebration, held at her residence in Wa in the Upper West Region, brought together SSNIT officials, pensioners, family members and community leaders to celebrate her remarkable milestone and highlight the importance of Ghana’s national pension scheme.
Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations and Benefits at SSNIT, Adam Sulley, said the celebration demonstrates the Trust’s commitment to recognising pensioners for their contributions to national development.
“We need to keep our pensioners excited, expecting and connected to the scheme. Pensioners are one of our valued stakeholders,” he said.
Mr. Sulley explained that holding the celebration at Madam Dagomba’s home instead of a hotel was a deliberate effort to strengthen community engagement and raise awareness about the importance of pension enrolment, particularly among self-employed and informal sector workers.
He emphasised that expanding pension coverage within the informal economy is critical to the future sustainability of Ghana’s pension system.
“The future of pensions is for the informal sector. We have a self-employed programme and continue to engage workers to join the scheme,” he stated.
The celebration also highlighted initiatives introduced by SSNIT to improve the welfare of pensioners, including its telehealth programme implemented in partnership with Trust Hospital and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which allows pensioners to consult healthcare professionals remotely.
“If you sample ten pensioners, nine will mention health as their biggest challenge. Through telehealth, a doctor’s consultation is just a phone call away,” Mr. Sulley said.
Tamale Area Manager of SSNIT, Seth Kpakpa Quartey, described Madam Dagomba as a living example of the long-term benefits of regular pension contributions.
“She stands as a living testimony to what it means to plan effectively for the future. A secure and dignified retirement is built on consistency in contribution,” he noted.
Expressing her gratitude during the ceremony, Madam Dagomba said the pension scheme has provided her with financial security throughout her retirement.
“Without SSNIT, life would not have been easy for me. I am able to feed myself and pay my bills because of SSNIT,” she said.
Upper West Regional Treasurer of the National Pensioners Association, Victoria Danoro Dangori, congratulated the centenarian, describing her longevity and retirement journey as an inspiration to workers and pensioners across the country.
The event forms part of SSNIT’s broader campaign to honour long-serving pensioners while encouraging more Ghanaians, especially those in the informal sector, to enrol in the national pension scheme and secure financial stability in retirement.
Source: citinews
