The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has honoured Ghana’s oldest female pensioner, Madam Ima Zenabu Dagomba, as she celebrated her 100th birthday, using the occasion to reinforce the importance of retirement planning and 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 milestone and highlight the value of Ghana’s national pension scheme.
Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations and Benefits at SSNIT, Adam Sulley, said the event reflects 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 organising the celebration at Madam Dagomba’s home, rather than at a hotel, was a deliberate strategy to deepen community engagement and raise awareness about the importance of pension enrolment, especially among self-employed and informal sector workers.
He noted that the future growth of Ghana’s pension system will depend significantly on expanding coverage within the informal economy.
“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 served as an opportunity for SSNIT to showcase initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of pensioners.
Mr. Sulley highlighted the Trust’s telehealth programme, implemented in partnership with Trust Hospital and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), which enables pensioners to consult medical 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,” he said.
The Tamale Area Manager of SSNIT, Seth Kpakpa Quartey, described Madam Dagomba as a living example of the long-term benefits of consistent 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.
Speaking during the ceremony, Madam Dagomba expressed appreciation to SSNIT for the financial security the pension scheme has provided 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 efforts to honour long-serving pensioners while encouraging more Ghanaians particularly those in the informal sector to participate in the national pension scheme and secure financial stability in retirement.
