The Mid-West Ghana Conference (MWGC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is taking steps to improve the retirement security of its members through a proposed micro pension scheme being developed in collaboration with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA).
The initiative is aimed at providing a structured savings platform for church members, particularly those in the informal sector who are not covered by Ghana’s mandatory pension schemes.
The proposal was discussed at an engagement meeting in Sunyani involving officials of the NPRA, head pastors, elders, executive committee members and other senior church leaders.
Pastor Maxwell Obour Awuah, President of the MWGC, said the church was motivated by concerns over the financial difficulties many members face after retirement.
“For many years, we have witnessed devoted members who have worked tirelessly for their families, communities and the church. However, some of them reach retirement without adequate financial resources,” he said.
According to him, the proposed pension scheme would offer congregants a transparent and member-focused avenue to make regular contributions towards a secure and dignified retirement.
He explained that the initiative reflected the church’s commitment to promoting the holistic wellbeing of its members, including their financial security and retirement preparedness.
Pastor Thomas Akosah Agyapong, Director of Stewardship, Trust Services and Strategic Planning of the Conference, said the church was seeking technical guidance and regulatory support from the NPRA to establish the scheme.
He noted that long-term savings through the pension arrangement would help members achieve financial stability in old age and urged church leaders to educate congregants on the importance of retirement planning.
“Let’s help our members to understand that the initiative isn’t a burden but a blessing and not a tax but a future investment,” he stated.
Mr. William Ohene-Adjei, Bono and Ahafo Regional Zonal Manager of the NPRA, praised the church for what he described as a forward-looking intervention.
He said the proposed scheme aligned with the Authority’s efforts to expand pension coverage among informal sector workers, including traders, artisans, small business operators and self-employed individuals who often lack retirement protection.
According to him, the initiative could serve as a model for other religious institutions and community-based organisations seeking to provide social protection for their members.
“What the conference is proposing is more than a church programme; it is a significant social protection intervention,” Mr. Ohene-Adjei said.
The NPRA indicated that the engagement formed part of its broader strategy to increase pension participation among underserved groups and strengthen financial security for Ghanaians outside the formal employment sector.
Church leaders expressed optimism that the scheme would help members plan adequately for retirement and reduce financial vulnerability in old age while promoting a culture of long-term savings within the congregation.
