Non-payment of players' SSNIT contribution - Premier clubs risk demotion
Many Ghana Premier League clubs risk being demoted to the lowest tier of Ghana football over their failures to meet their responsibilities to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), an infringement on the Club Licensing Regulations.
While four clubs — Techiman Eleven Wonders FC, Karela United FC, Bibiani Goldstars FC and King Faisal — have not registered their players onto the SSNIT scheme, others such as giants Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko have been placed on payment plans by the Trust to meet their outstanding obligations.
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This was disclosed by the Compliance Officer (Nsawam Branch) of SSNIT and National Coordinator of SSNIT Footballer Registrations, Mr Joseph Nkoo, in a telephone interview with the Graphic Sports.
Club in compliance
According to Mr Nkoo, only four clubs, namely; Dreams FC, Berekum Chelsea, West Africa Football Academy and Accra Lions were in good standing with the Trust before the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.
"All professional football clubs are supposed to register their players onto the Trust, the law by the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766) says where there is an employer-employee relationship such is in football where there is a contract, the players must be registered for SSNIT," Mr Nkoo said.
"Per the requirement, after every season, you are supposed to come to our office and inform us about the players that have left the club and new ones that have been signed, so that we update the club records on our contribution report.
"Two weeks ago, the Administrator of Dreams FC called me and I facilitated the updating of their records, same for Berekum Chelsea who updated their records and made a deposit of GH¢5,000. WAFA has also been excellent with monthly payments, Accra Lions who just joined the topflight has registered and are making monthly payments," he said.
He said in the case of Legon Cities FC, the club had registered their players but had not met their obligations to the staff.
Mr Nkoo added that Hearts as of last week had the biggest debt to the Trust, among Premier League clubs, but after being served a Writ of Summons by SSNIT, the Phobians made a GH¢50,000 deposit to reduce the sum and also reached an agreement on a monthly payment plan.
He said the Trust was also pursuing the Chairman of Ashgold, Mr Kwaku Frimpong, to meet his outstanding obligations to the Trust.
He further disclosed that aside from the 14 GPL clubs who had registered their players, only four clubs in the Division One League, namely Inter Allies, Kpando
Heart of Lions, Liberty Professionals and Ebusua Dwarfs had registered their players.
Regulations
It shall be mandatory for any member of the GFA to obtain a valid licence as a condition to participate in any of the approved competitions and matches set out in Article 4 of GFA Regulations.
The settlement of responsibilities to SSNIT and tax authorities is captured as a mandatory A Criteria in the licensing regulations which state that: "If the licence application does not fulfil any ‘A’ criteria, it cannot be granted a licence to enter CAF inter-club and national club competitions".
The licensing regulations in Article 7 also stipulate that a licence may be withdrawn by the licensor during the season "if any of the conditions precedent for the issue of licence is no longer satisfied" or "if the licensee violates any of its obligations under the licensing arrangements".
According to the regulations, if a club licence is withdrawn, the affected licensee will be demoted to the lowest league and the said club's conduct shall be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.
Mr Nkoo urged the media to assist the Trust to educate the players on the importance of the Trust which, he said, had provisions to cater for players who suffered career-ending injuries.
He said in recent times, Premier League players were developing an interest in their SSNIT benefits with players such as Elvis Opoku and Prince Baffoe contacting the Trust about the status of their contributions.
"At times, the players can't say because they will be victimised but I urge them to visit any SSNIT office and ask for the Compliance Manager, we will investigate and take it from there while keeping you anonymous,” he said.
"I urge the clubs to also take it seriously, they have at least squads of 30 players and can you imagine having 30 workers and not paying their SSNIT contributions, how will their future be?" he quizzed.
PFAG’s concerns
The Head of Communications of the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Thomas Boakye-Agyeman in an interview with the Graphic Sports said although the GFA was slowly implementing the Club Licensing Regulations, the PFAG wished its implementation and enforcement could be fast tracked to safeguard the welfare of players.
He said the PFAG was concerned about the current situation and was always on hand to assist players who make official complaints.
"Normally, we embark on club visitations and that's when the players make the complaints on such issues and when it is brought to our notice officially, we take it up with the relevant authorities," Mr Boakye-Agyeman said in a telephone interview.
