Pensioners reject 10% increase, call for minimum living pension

The Concerned SSNIT Pensioners Forum (CSPF) has described the newly announced 10 percent pension increase for 2026 as inadequate, insisting that the adjustment fails to reflect the harsh economic realities facing retirees, particularly low-income pensioners.

In a statement issued on January 10, 2026, the Forum said while it appreciates the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) decision to increase pensions, the increment does little to address pensioner poverty or the rising cost of living, especially in areas such as healthcare, food, and medication.

According to the group, the focus on percentage increases has become meaningless without a guaranteed minimum living pension.

“Annual increases happen every year, but many pensioners still cannot afford food, medicine, or basic healthcare, indicating that the adjustments are disconnected from the lived experiences of the age,d” the Forum stated.

The CSPF recalled that on November 19, 2025, it formally petitioned SSNIT to urgently review the minimum pension level and address what it described as long-standing injustices in annual pension adjustments.

Copies of the petition were also submitted to the Minister for Finance, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Pensions Authority.

In the petition, the Forum proposed raising the minimum monthly pension to GH¢600 and granting an average pension increase of between 15 and 20 per cent for 2026. It argued that the 2025 minimum monthly pension of GH¢396.58 was grossly inadequate, noting that pensioners on that amount struggle to afford medication and have become dependent on others for survival.

“We stated clearly that GH¢396.58 cannot even cover the cost of medication for pensioners receiving the minimum pension,” the group said.

The pensioners also revealed that they met with SSNIT officials on December 10, 2025, and were assured that their concerns would be forwarded to the appropriate approving authorities for consideration.

However, the Forum has raised concerns over what it describes as inconsistencies in SSNIT’s public communication on minimum pension figures. It cited SSNIT’s January 6, 2025, statement, which indicated that the minimum pension increased from GH¢300 in 2024 to GH¢396.58 in 2025, representing a 32.19 per cent increase.

In contrast, SSNIT’s January 8, 2026, release stated that pensioners on the minimum pension of GH¢300 would, after the 2026 indexation and redistribution, receive GH¢409.56 monthly, representing a 36.52 per cent increase. The Forum has therefore called on SSNIT to clearly define what constitutes the minimum pension in Ghana.

Beyond the immediate concerns, the CSPF is advocating for a broader policy shift, calling for the introduction of a national minimum pension policy, similar to Ghana’s national minimum wage system.

“We believe Ghana must adopt a minimum pension policy that allows retirees to survive with dignity. We therefore call for an urgent inclusive national dialogue involving SSNIT, policymakers, organised labour, pensioner associations, economic planners, and civil society.”

The group warned that without a sustainable and livable pension framework, the dignity and well-being of retirees will remain under threat, particularly as healthcare costs continue to rise with age.

The CSPF said it will continue to engage SSNIT and relevant state institutions in its push for pension justice, equity, and policies that guarantee a dignified life for pensioners in Ghana.

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