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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)
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
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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