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“I love to see my customers treated with respect” -Jacinta Ntumy, SSNIT Benefits Officer says
Ms. Ntumy
If there is any staff in the formal sector who hears the phrase ‘God bless you’ more often than any other person on daily basis, then that probably is Jacinta Ntumy, an Assistant Benefits Officer with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in the Greater Accra Region.
I love to see my customers pampered, feel very important and treated with the respect they deserve because they are the reason I have been employed and that is where I also earn a living,” she said.
Based on some positive reactions from a large section of her clients, Ms Ntumy was engaged in an interview with The Spectator recently to share few thoughts with readers.
Ms Ntumy told this reporter that she joined SSNIT because as a graduate she wanted to work with a prestigious institution.
After a few weeks into her employment, she felt that she had been sent there to touch the lives of people and not just put food on her table.
“First of all, I expect the customer to feel welcomed and be treated with decorum, courtesy, love, respect and patience.”
“My responsibility is to make the customer feel at home even when he or she appears rude. I even see such bad-mannered attitudes as hazards of the job to deal with customers every day,” she said.
She sees the customer as a potential family member who is also capable of occupying her seat so she feels obliged to give them the deserved attention and reverence.
“As you may be aware, the slogan for SSNIT is, ‘we deliver on our promise.’ I therefore want to be the solution to my cherished customers by using the requisite communication expertise and competencies to resolve any problem that is brought to me,” she assured.
The ABO said aside trying to be a professional, her Christian doctrines make her understand that those she comes into contact with could be a blessing in disguise.
“Let me give you a scenario of how an aged pensioner walked in for my services. After giving all the assistance, they tell you ‘God bless you.’ These are my fathers and mothers, I feel I should treat them well to enjoy the blessings of God,” she said.
Her passion is to see widows who have received their late husbands’ benefits on time to cater for their needs and those of their children.
According to her, such people always tell her ‘God bless you’ and even promise to pray for her, which gives her a feeling of fulfilment and joy.
“I believe that these prayers go a long way to protect me and my family, so I am always encouraged to do my best with the help of God,” Ms Ntumy added.
Her greatest joy in working with SSNIT is to serve customers as a Benefits Officer and Investigator.
By her designation, she often deals with workers, retirees, pensioners, invalid persons, emigrants, bereaved families, widows among others.
“For the pensioners, sometimes I even go a step further to visit and interact with them at home, and interestingly that has also become my hobby. It is also an opportunity to learn from them,” she said.
She explained that Benefits Officer’s job description is to ensure that all claims applications were assembled and appropriate reports were written to ensure the person was paid on time because one of the goals of SSNIT was to replace part of lost incomes to those that are no more in active service.
For her, her background as a Development Communicator trained by the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) had equipped her well to ensure that issues that were not well understood were explained to customers.
“We recently introduced a new initiative dubbed SEED. This is an opportunity for all self-employed persons to join the scheme by making monthly contributions so that they could enjoy the benefits we sell.
“It gives me joy when I have to explain to the self-employed to contribute to the scheme by making monthly contributions to enjoy the benefits,” she said.
This gives her inexplicable satisfaction and a responsibility to also sell the message to people who are not well-informed of the processes, to bring to their attention the advantages and benefits of contributing to SSNIT.
Ms Ntumy had her basic education at Jacob’s Preparatory School at Abeka Lapaz in the Greater Accra Region and continued at the Ola Secondary School, Ho in the Volta Region.
She proceeded to the Ghana Institute of Journalism for her Diploma in Community Studies.
She also attended the University of Ghana for her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Linguistics with a First-Class Honours and returned to GIJ for a Master of Arts in Development Communication.
She has been married to Ebenezer Ayim, a Public Relations Person who is also a Pastor for nine years and they have three daughters namely Nhyira, Aseda and Ayeyi.
She admits that combining work and family life was challenging but was thankful to have a supportive husband who even single-handedly took care of the children when she was once transferred to another region.
“My husband played dual roles as a father and mother at the same time. I had to visit the family every weekend to prepare variety of dishes for the family.”
“I must confess it was stressful and the most challenging moment in our marital journey and the upbringing of our children,” she admitted.
However, with time she learnt how to manage her time well and ensured she had enough rest when she was less busy or when on leave.
Ms Ntumy enjoys cooking, engaging in house chores, spending time with her family, visiting pensioners and orphans, doing any work that involves research and engaging in church activities.
Her favourite food is light soup with dry fish and fufu.
The ABO said she was always encouraged by the Holy Bible to do right to all manner of persons without discriminating.
She is a native of Kpando in the Volta Region, born to John Ntumy, formerly of COCOBOD and Stella Acquah and the first of four children.
She advised the public to take advantage of the SSNIT initiatives to have a decent future after retirement.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay
Pictures of Ms Jacinta Ntumy
Ms. Ntumy and her husband, Ebenezer Ayim whom she calls her best friend
Ms. Ntumy on one of her visits to the home of some Pensioners.
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Armed Forces has confirmed that an escort convoy protecting civilians was attacked in Binduri in the Upper East Region, leaving three people dead.
In a press release issued on April 27, 2026, the military said the convoy, which was escorting about 140 civilians from Bawku to Bolgatanga, came under gunfire from unknown attackers.
It said the attackers shot at the convoy several times, killing three of the civilians being escorted and injuring one other person.
According to the statement, soldiers returned fire and were able to repel the attack. In the process, seven of the assailants were killed.
The military added that during a follow-up operation, weapons and ammunition were retrieved from a suspect who had taken refuge in a mosque.
The items included a G3 rifle, two loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition.
It said ten other suspects have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.
The Ghana Armed Forces cautioned the public against engaging the military or any security agency during operations.
It extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured person a speedy recovery.
By: Jacob Aggrey
