Sunyani: The Mid-West Ghana Conference (MWGC) of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) is collaborating with the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) to set up a micro pension scheme for the members of the church.
According to Ghana News Agency, an engagement meeting took place in Sunyani between personnel of the NPRA and the leadership of the Conference. Pastor Thomas Akosah Agyapong, the Director of Stewardship, Trust Services, and Strategic Planning of the Conference, highlighted the necessity of the pension scheme for the church.
The meeting brought together head pastors, elders, executive committee members, and other senior church leaders to discuss the Conference's proposal to establish an informal pension scheme tailored to the needs of its congregants. Pastor Agyapong explained that presently the MWGC, which oversees a substantial membership base spread across the Bono Region, was seeking regulatory guidance and technical support from the NPRA for the establishment of the pension.
Pastor Agyapong emphasized that the establishment of the scheme and the long-term contributions of the members would greatly guarantee their future financial security. He urged pastors, elders, and stewardship leadership, as well as the entire members of the SDA church, to embrace and support the initiative for their own good and the benefits of their respective congregants.
He encouraged church leaders to educate the congregants and members on the benefits of long-term savings and retirement planning. Pastor Agyapong, also the Sunyani East District Pastor of the SDA Church, advised that, "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 noted that besides spiritual development, the SDA church valued the worth and general wellbeing of the members.
Pastor Agyapong underscored the church's dedication to ensuring that "when your working years are over, you can enjoy your retirement with dignity, peace of mind, and financial security."