By:
Fred Yaw Sarpong
Fire
Officers in the Eastern Region are rejecting what they call a “compulsory
welfare funds” instituted by their superiors in the region. According to them, the so-called welfare
funds, including the Fireman Provident Fund need to be scrapped because they do
not derive any benefit from them.
In
separate interviews with a Daily Express reporter, the Junior Officers in the
region complained that even though they reluctantly contribute between GHc15.00 to GHc30.00 every month, no account
has been rendered to them, and they have
not been told what their monies are being use for.
“At
least at the end of every year, we expect them to tell us the state of the fund,
but they have never done that,” one of the Officers complained.
According
to them, even accessing loans from the fund in times of need, becomes
difficult.
“Even when the loan is granted, we do not get
the actual amount, unlike the Senior Officers who benefit fully whenever they
request for loans. But we all contribute equal amount,” another Junior Officer lamented.
The
officers further stated that part of the welfare fund was used to purchase musical
instruments (band) to render services to the public, for revenue generation. However,
they do not understand why if a member (Fire Officer) passes away, ‘the family
has to pay again for services of the band’ on behalf of the dead Fire Officer.
“We
have complained several times but our authorities have refused to hear us,” the
officers emphasized.
“We
also do not understand why 10% is deducted from the welfare benefit accrued to
an Officer who goes on retirement. They have never been able to explain this to
us,” they said.
Touching
on the Fireman Provident Fund (GHc20.00 per month),
which is a national insurance plan, the officers complained of not having any
proof to show that the contribution is part of the welfare, saying “We don’t
have any policy numbers and even certificates to certify that we are members of
such welfare.”
The
Daily Express gathered that there is a third-tier welfare fund, managed by the
State Insurance Company (SIC), where each member contributes GHc55.00. They said
they were first contributing GHc25.00 for an SIC Insurance. However, a recent
SIC Insurance Policy makes them pay an additional GHc30.00 per month. They said
this amount is different from the GHc20.00 they pay for the Fireman Provident
Fund and the GHc15.00 compulsory payment for the Eastern Region welfare.
Checks
the Daily Express from other regions indicate that, apart from the Fireman
Provident Fund and the SIC insurance plan, each region has the right to
institute welfare on behalf of the officers, however this should not be
compulsory. It was revealed that most of
the regional welfares were made compulsory immediately an officer joins the
service.
In
an interview with Prince Billy Anaglatey, the Public Relations Officer of the
National Fire Service, he stated that “I know every region has its regional
welfare. They have agreed among themselves to have such welfare schemes, but the
arrangement from Eastern Region might be different from Greater Accra or Northern
regions”. He however, stated that this
does not come from the Headquarters and does not think it should be compulsory.
Mr.
Anaglatey explained that there was a team that went throughout the regions to
explain the SIC policy to all the fire personnel and based on their acceptance,
the insurance was initiated. “So if anybody is complaining again, I will be surprised”
why.
He
said the purpose of going round the country was to know the response from the
fire officers, adding that, the SIC scheme
was initially done for every fire personnel, but currently, an officer can
decide to opt out or continue at any time and the amount to be contribute is
optional.
Contacts
to some Senior Fire Officers in the Eastern Region, for an explanation of the
issue proved futile. Those who answered
their phones declined comment on the matter.
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