SSNIT Honours Oldest Female Pensioner Madam Ima Zenabu Dagomba on Her 100th Birthday

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has officially celebrated Madam Ima Zenabu Dagomba, identified as its oldest living female pensioner, on the occasion of her 100th birthday. This significant milestone was marked by the Trust not only as a celebration of longevity but as a practical demonstration of the benefits of the national pension scheme. Madam Dagomba’s centenary serves as a powerful testament to the long-term impact of social security on the lives of elderly Ghanaians, providing a narrative of financial dignity that spans decades.

Madam Dagomba’s journey with the Trust illustrates a consistent history of retirement security. After concluding her active working life and retiring in January 1992, she began receiving her monthly SSNIT pension payments in March 1993. For over thirty-one years, she has remained a beneficiary of the scheme, highlighting the reliability of the system in providing a continuous safety net long after an individual has left the workforce. Her case is being highlighted by the Trust as a model for how formal social security structures support citizens through their most vulnerable years.

Using the celebration as a platform for public education, SSNIT emphasized the critical importance of early retirement planning and pension enrolment. The Trust specifically addressed the need for workers in the informal sector to take proactive steps in joining the scheme. By showcasing Madam Dagomba’s experience, the organization aims to dispel misconceptions about pension eligibility and demonstrate that the scheme is designed to provide life-long support for all contributors, regardless of their sector of employment.

As the Trust continues to expand its outreach, stories like that of Madam Ima Zenabu Dagomba provide a human face to the importance of the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) and other initiatives aimed at universal pension coverage. The celebration underscores the broader implication that a robust pension system is essential for national social stability. Moving forward, SSNIT intends to use such success stories to encourage younger generations to prioritize their future financial health, ensuring that more Ghanaians can look forward to a retirement defined by security rather than uncertainty.