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Be flexible in dealing with state institutions …NTC MD tells SSNIT
![• Mr. Martin Adu Owusu [fourth from right], Mr. Lord Koramoa [sixth from left], with SSNIT delegation and NTC management after the meeting. Photo Lizzy Okai.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Mr.-Martin-Adu-Owusu-fourth-from-right-Mr.-Lord-Koramoa-sixth-from-left-with-SSNIT-delegation-and-NTC-management-after-the-meeting.-Photo-Lizzy-Okai.jpg)
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The Managing Director of the New Times Corporation (NTC), publishers of the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers, Mr. Martin Adu Owusu has asked the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to be flexible in its dealings with government institutions.
According to him, it was important SSNIT takes a second look at its dealings with these agencies, regarding the imposition of penalties for late payment of contributions.
Mr Adu Owusu said this on Wednesday when he received a delegation from SSNIT on a familiarisation visit.
“There are times our contributions delay and we are penalised heavily, even taken to court. But we are all government institutions, so I think there should be some understanding,” he said.
That notwithstanding, Mr Adu Owusu gave the assurance that the Corporation was ready to deepen its partnership with the Trust for the benefit of Mother Ghana.”
Mr. Lord Koramoa, Public Affairs Manager of SSNIT who led the delegation disclosed that the Trust was beginning to build stronger partnerships with government institutions, especially the media.
Such collaborations, he explained, were necessary because the institutions served the same national goals and work towards a common agenda.
According to him, government institutions like the NTC plays a crucial role in creating public awareness, adding that such partnerships would go a long way to propagate activities of the Trust.
“I believe in building solid relationships with organisations like the NTC. It’s a win-win situation, it’s a win for the institutions and by extension the government,” Mr Koramoa said.
He said such a partnership should go beyond the promotion of the national pension scheme to other areas of mutual benefit.
The Editor of The Spectator, Mrs Georgina Naa-Maku Quaittoo, assured the officials of SSNIT of The Spectator’s readiness to collaborate with them to educate the public on issues relating to pensions, updating of records for beneficiaries among others.
“We hope that officials of SSNIT would be ready to release information on time whenever they are contacted,” she said.
The Acting Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, advised the SSNIT officials to sustain the campaign to ensure that journalists remain informed to correctly inform the public.
The Deputy Manager of Public Affairs at SSNIT, Ms Jemimah Ofori said the Trust has chalked some feats in its service delivery with the use of digital platforms to make pension contributions and benefit claims faster and easier.
“Our SSNIT App, website, and MoMo payment system now allow self-employed persons and employers to pay contributions conveniently, processing of claims has also improved significantly. Some people even receive payments in less than a month,” she said.
By Andrew Nortey
In other jurisdictions, the commencement of a new football season was one soccer fans would party about.
Having endured about a three-month period without action, fans become anxious about what the new season brings and how their respective teams would perform.
But that is not the case in Ghana, especially where the current Ghana Premier League (GPL) football season is expected to get underway today.
Unlike other places where fans would be fantasising and visualising about the new players and what they bring on board, Ghanaian fans have been occupied with discussions about the present state of infrastructure.
Obviously, the game thrives when stadia appear in good condition. When the pitches are in perfect shapes, it enhances play and brings out the best from the players.
Sadly, the state of the pitches in the country have left many questioning the preparedness for the season that also coincides with the start of AFCON qualifiers.
Currently, the pitch at the Accra Sports Stadium is closed for Premier League matches in readiness for the qualifiers.
Alternative ones like the University of Ghana Stadium is also not in the best of shape.
The Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi is also a concern despite hosting the Democracy Cup. As a result, teams to be affected in the southern and northern sectors would turn their attention to the Abramkese and UG stadia, a situation that would take a toll on the surfaces.
The situation, therefore, raises questions over the country’s direction regarding the provision of sports infrastructure.
Apart from the Borteyman Sports Complex, which was constructed for the Africa Games, none of the facilities scattered across the country can be said to be in good shape to host local games; not to talk about high profile competitions.
This should be a wakeup call on the government to start initiating processes to ensure modern infrastructure were erected to put Ghana in a good position to host games without the unwarranted scrutiny of CAF.
This would come at a huge cost to the taxpayer but when the business aspect of that expenditure in considered, it should be a worthy outlay.
But the infrastructure challenges notwithstanding, the competition will kick start at Tema where Vision FC engages Young Apostles FC.
The Hearts of Oak versus Berekum Chelsea clash will lead tomorrow’s games pack that also sees debutants Debibi United and Port City FC engaged in battles against Asante Kotoko and FC Ashantigold, respectively.
In other games, Basake Holy Stars will welcome Swedru All Blacks; FC Samartex against Karela United; Heart of Lions versus Aduana FC and Bechem United against Goldstars.
Dreams FC will face Medeama SC at the Tuba astro turf on Monday.
By Andrew Nortey
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The 2026 Idea Challenge Pitch and media launch was held last Saturday at the Pentecost University in Accra.
It brought together innovators, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to promote creative ideas and solutions aimed at addressing societal challenges.
The initiative, organised by the Visionary Organisation Development and Entrepreneurial Club (VODEC) and National Emerging Leaders Economic Forum (NELEF) provided a platform for participants to showcase their ideas and highlight how innovation and creativity could be transformed into practical solutions.
The programme also sought to encourage young people to develop ideas that could contribute to national development and create opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Held on the theme: ‘building Africa’s future, emerging leaders driving inclusive growth and regional transformation,’ the event sought to serve as a strategic platform to transition youth talent from mere concepts into investable enterprises.
During the pitch session, shortlisted entrepreneurs presented viable business ideas which spanned critical sectors, including climate-smart agribusiness, sustainable waste management, digital technology, and assistive tech for persons with disabilities.
A member of the judging panel, Mr Blessed Amonoo, an Investment Analyst at the Ghana Amalgamated Trust Plc., praised the technical depth of the presentations.
“We are looking for scalability, market readiness, and projects that directly answer local problems,“ Mr Amonoo noted during the evaluation.
“The level of innovation displayed here proves that African youth possesses the answers to the continent’s economic riddles, provided they receive the right structural refinement.”
Finalists selected from this rigorous process will be officially announced and paired with corporate mentors at the flagship forum in September.
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive of VODEC Africa, Mr. Daniel Asomani, urged African governments and financial institutions to systematically secure capital for youth-led startups.
Mr Asomani emphasised that Africa’s persistent brain drain can only be reversed if young minds find fertile ground to scale their enterprises locally.
“Our brilliant minds are leaving the shores of Africa not because they want to, but because the local ecosystem suffocates their dreams.”
“The Idea Challenge is our contribution to keeping this talent home but VODEC cannot do it alone. We need policy interventions, tax incentives for startups, and deliberate venture funding to turn these ideas into multi-million-dollarcorporations,” Mr Asomani stated.
By Desmond Aidoo
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