E&P responds to SSNIT over non-payment of contributions

Construction firm, Engineers and Planners (E&P) has responded to allegations by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) that the company has failed to pay the social security contributions of its workers.

According to SSNIT, E&P allegedly failed to pay the social security contributions of its workers between the periods February to July 2015, June to August 2016 and October 2016

But a statement issued by E&P Monday, explained that on December 22, 2016, it entered into a negotiated agreement SSNIT for the payment of arrears of social security contributions of GH¢1,601,051.78.

However, on March 2, SSNIT wrote to E&P to serve notice that it had abrogated the negotiated agreement due to the failure of the company to make the instalment payment for February 2017, as a result of two days of delay in paying the first instalment.

According to the statement, E&P made a request for SSNIT to reconsider its decision to abrogate the negotiated agreement but SSNIT declined the request.

Below is the full statement

Engineers & Planners has settled SSNIT contributions

• On 22nd December 2016, SSNIT entered into a negotiated agreement with Engineers and Planners as it does with all clients for the payment of arrears of social security contributions of GHc1,601,051.78.

• By the terms of the agreement, E&P were required to make 12 monthly instalments commencing February 2017 ending in January 2018.

• As at 28th April 2017, E&P had made a total payment of over GHc 2 million (GHc2,723,212.36) in full satisfaction of all outstanding arrears and penalties.

• JUST TWO DAYS DELAYED PAYMENT – On March 2 2017, SSNIT wrote to E&P to serve notice that it had abrogated the negotiated agreement due to the failure of the company to make the instalment payment for February 2017, as a result of two (2) days of delay in paying the first instalment.

• E&P informed SSNIT that it had made efforts to make the payments for February as agreed but for unexpected delays in their receivables on current contracts and convincingly committed to paying. A promise it has fulfilled.

• E&P further made a request for SSNIT to reconsider its decision to abrogate the negotiated agreement. SSNIT declined the request.

• Instead, on 13th April 2017, a summons was issued to E&P to appear before the District Court on 29th April 2017 to answer a complaint of failing to pay SSNIT contributions of GHc668,754.75 and penalty of GHc387,709.31 totalling GHc1,056,464.06.

• Once again it is worth noting that, E&P has paid over GHc 2 million (GHc2,723,212.36) in full satisfaction of all outstanding arrears and penalties.

• Counsel for Engineers and Planners has informed the court that the company has fully paid off the outstanding amounts due SSNIT.

Source: Graphic