The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has cleared Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) of any wrongdoing in the matter involving the pension contributions of six former employees.
These six former employees had taken legal action against the church, alleging non-payment of their mandatory pension contributions and claiming they had experienced abuses during their tenure at LCI.
Before initiating their legal proceedings, the six individuals had submitted a formal complaint to SSNIT regarding LCI’s alleged non-compliance with fundamental labour regulations.
Below is the full report from SSNIT in a document dated: August 20, 2021:
Social Security & National Insurance Trust
August 20, 2021
THE HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR
LIGHTHOUSE CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL, GHANA P. 0. BOX 114,
KORLE-BU
ACCRA
Dear Madam,
RE: NEGLIGENCE TO PAY SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS BY LIGHTHOUSE CHAPEL INTERNATIONAL (NOW KNOWN AS UNITED DENOMINATIONS)
We refer to the above subject matter and the series of discussions and numerous correspondence received from you and the complainants, regarding the complaint of non-payment of social security contributions for six Bishops/Pastors.
The Bishops/Pastors (complainants), comprising Lawrence Odonkor, Emmanuel Oko Mensah, Edward Laryea, Seth Duncan, Edem Amankwah and Faith Makafui Fiakojo were invited to a meeting on August 2, 2021, purposely to discuss the crux of the matter under contention and also obtain documentary evidence in support of their complaint.
Your representatives were also invited to a similar meeting on August 5, 2021. In essence, this process was to gather evidence to enable the Trust determine whether or not there was an employer/employee relationship during the various alleged periods of non-payment of social security contributions.
From the review of the correspondences and evidence adduced by the complainants (the Bishops and Pastors) as well as those submitted by your representatives and the discussions for proof of negligence to pay social security contributions by Lighthouse Chapel International Ghana (LCI Ghana), we inferred that LC! Ghana paid contributions for the periods of employment to discharge its obligation under The National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766), as Amended as follows:
- Bishop Lawrence Odonkor
Records currently available to us indicate that there was an employer/employee relationship between LCI Ghana and Bishop Lawrence Odonkor for the period June 2005 to June 2010 and January 2020 to April 2020. During these periods, social security contributions were paid on his behalf, based on the available employment history records.
From our independent investigations and records currently available to us, we could not establish an employer/employee relationship between LCI Ghana and Bishop Lawrence Odonkor for the periods September 2010 to September 2017 and April 2017 to December 2019. This was because he was in the employment of LCI South Africa and Madagascar respectively; and not LCI Ghana,
For the other period under contention, (November 2001 to May 2005), we could also not establish an employer/employee relationship, based on records provided and our own investigations.
- Bishop Emmanuel Oko Mensah
Bishop Emmanuel Oko Mensah was employed and worked as a full time Pastor for LCI Ghana from August 2003 to November 2018 during which period his contributions were paid. We did not find any employment document contrary to what was available to us, for the period under contention apart from May 2019 where his name was cited on your PAYE records. On the basis of that, you are requested to submit a contribution report to the nearest SSNIT Branch for validation and subsequently, pay the contribution amount and any accrued penalty for the period May 2019.
- Edward Laryea
From our independent investigations, we could not establish an employer/employee relationship between Rev. Edward Laryea and LCI Ghana during the period July 2005 to July 2008. Rev. Edward Laryea also failed to provide us with evidence of being in your employment for the period under contention. We were therefore unable to establish an employer/employee relationship for that period and by extension, any salaries earned on which social security contributions were not paid.
- Seth Duncan
Ps. Seth Duncan failed to provide evidence of being in the employment of LCI Ghana. our independent investigations also could not establish an employer/employee relationship between LCI Ghana and Ps. Seth Duncan, during the period under contention and by extension, any salaries earned on which social security contributions were not paid.
- Ps. Edem Amankwah
Ps. Edem Amankwah failed to provide evidence of being in the employment of LCI Ghana. Our independent investigations also could not establish an employer/employee relationship between LCI Ghana and Ps. Edem Amankwah, during the period under contention and by extension, any salaries earned on which social security contributions were not paid.
- Ps. Faith Makafui Fiakojo
Ps. Faith Makafui Fiakojo, failed to provide evidence of being in the employment of LCI Ghana. Our independent investigations also could not establish an employer/employee relationship between LCI Ghana and Ps, Faith Makafui Fiakojo, during the period under contention and by extension, any salaries earned on which social security contributions were not paid.
In line with the foregoing, LC1 Ghana was found to be liable for the payment of contributions only on behalf of Bishop Emmanuel Oko Mensah for May 2019 because his name was cited on your PAYE records, LCI Ghana is therefore requested to submit a contribution report to the nearest SSNIT Branch for validation and subsequently, the unremitted contribution amount and any accrued penalty for the missed payment in respect of Bishop Emmanuel Oko Mensah for May 2019.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Signed
Felix Cudjoe Ahiable
Compliance Manager – SSNIT
