Takoradi, March 20, GNA - Seven out of 10 companies in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis who owe workers' contributions to SSNIT to the tune of 7.8 billion cedis have been arraigned before the Takoradi Circuit court.

Proprietors of Takoradi Hotel, Danimens Mechanical Engineering Company and "A2" and Associates 2003 Ghana Limited who were arrested on Bench Warrant for failing to appear before the court were later released on bail.

Out of the amount Western Veneer and Lumber Company (WVLC) owes SSNIT 6.8 billion cedis.

Mr Christian Victor Wood-Ackom, the SSNIT prosecutor, told the court presided over by Mr George Koomson that the defaulting companies had wilfully failed to discharge their obligations and disregarded demands to pay contributions deducted from the salaries and wages of their workers to SSNIT.

The rest are Goodwill Consult Limited, Architectural Spring company, Western Hardwood Limited, PAS timbers, Rad Forest Products, Intex Company and Hamrosa Limited.

Their pleas were not taken and WVLC, Takoradi Hotel and Danimens Mechanical Engineering Company would reappear before the court on Monday, March 20 while the rest do so on April 03.

Mr. Wood-Ackom later told the Ghana News Agency that 20 more companies in the metropolis who owe SSNIT more than 600 million cedis would be made to face similar action soon.

In a related development, Mr George Blege, Sekondi-Takoradi Branch Manager of SSNIT, has reminded private and public organisations in the metropolis that SSNIT had flexible terms for the payment of contribution owe it.

Those facing difficulties should not hesitate to approach SSNIT to negotiate the terms of payment.

He told the Ghana News Agency that in spite of several education programmes by SSNIT to institutions many continue to flout the laws on the payment of workers contributions.

Mr Blege urged workers to muster the courage and report their employers of any misconduct to the SSNIT for action and said, "SSNIT war on defaulting companies in the metropolis had just started".