The Greater-Accra Regional Council of the Health Services Workers Union (HSWU) of the Trades Union Congress, on Tuesday called on government to remit their five per cent second tier pension deductions to the Health Sector Occupational Pension Scheme (HSOPS).

It said workers have the right to join any scheme of their choice, and they are capable of managing their own affairs.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr Daniel York, Industrial Relations Officer of HSWU, said as members of HSOPS, they have agreed to the appointment of the Service Providers contracted by the Board of Trustees of the Scheme, and have full confidence in both the Board of Trustees and the Service providers.

He said they were aware that members of a defined contribution pension (second tier), who bear any risk associated with its operation and not the employer or government and would resist any attempt by government to impose any company trust on them.

“We are ever prepared to take our own future into our own hands so we call for transparency and accountability in the operation of the Temporary Pension Fund Account at the Bank of Ghana,” he added.

Mr York said they were aware that some of their members would retire from the Service from January 2015, yet the institutional arrangement to facilitate the process is unavailable for them to collect their lump sums from the Tier two pension scheme.

He alleged that government wants to put all public sector workers under the Pension Alliance Trust (PAT) which would give limited representation to workers.

He said according to government there would be a nine-member Board of Trustees, made up of five representatives from government and four from workers front.

According to him, Pension Alliance Trust would be managed by the same Board of Trustees from Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), thereby giving government the upper hand to still have control over workers’ contributions.

“We believe that government only wants to hide behind Pension Alliance Trust to either delay or refuse payment of the second tier pension to workers,” he said, and repeated their commitment to resist any attempt to force a scheme on them.

He announced that they are in contact with the National Union and would send feedback to all members on their next line of action.