As part of efforts to decentralise the services of Hedge Pension Trust (HPT), the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana, (CLOGSAG), has built and inaugurated a new office at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital.
Hedge Pension Trust (HPT) is a pension scheme company established and registered with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to offer short and long-term financial services to members of CLOGSAG.
The Executive Secretary of CLOGSAG, Mr Isaac Bampoe Addo, explained that the association was embarking on a project to construct offices in all the regional capitals of the country to provide easy access to transaction services to its members.
He said already seven regional capitals including Bolgatanga, Tamale, Kumasi, Sunyani, Takoradi, Cape Coast and Koforidua had received these facilities fitted with equipment that allow easy linkage with headquarters of the HPT in Accra and are operationalized.
He said one did not need to travel to Accra to access any information on his or her contributions and earnings, adding that problems or issues would be dealt with at the local level.
“In order to have easy access to their tier 2 component of the lump sum, the Hedge Pension Trust embarked on establishing centres at all the regions. The Centre would also provide advice and information on tier 3 pension which is called pempamsie,” he added.
Mr Addo indicated that through stakeholder engagement with the Inter-Ministerial Committee, NPRA and various consultancies, members retiring in January 2020 would be paid their appropriate lump sums.
“For those who were in service before January 1, 2010, they would will have to be paid accrued benefits or past credit by SSNIT in addition to the lump sum paid by the Trusts in the public sector,” added.
Mr Addo urged members to sign onto the tier 3 scheme to benefit fully from the scheme and called on those who are already in the scheme to continue to the scheme to secure a brighter retirement future.
The Chief Executive of Hedge Pension Trust Professor Emmanuel Osei Asiamah, explained that the ‘Pempansie Fund’ provided tax relief and the monies prudently invested for fair returns and benefits.
Mr Paul Apam, the Regional Chairman, CLOGSAG, expressed happiness and applauded the efforts of the national executives and indicated the facility would ensure speedy transaction as members would no longer be required to travel to Accra to undertake any business.
FROM SAMUEL AKAPULE, BOLGATANGA
