SSNIT’s investments hits GH¢6.6bn
The total investment portfolio of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has increased from GhC5.2 billion in 2013 to GhC6.6 billion at the close of 2014.
This represents a positive variance of 27.9 per cent. The amount for the year under review is made of GhC2.35 billion in equities; GhC3.61 billion in fixed income and GhC640.51 million in alternative investments.
A representative of the investment department of SSNIT, Ms Patience Akua Owusu, disclosed this at a special forum for media editors at Aburi in the Eastern Region.
She said the real return on investments of the Trust for 2013 was 16.90 per cent, which indicates that SSNIT has consistently exceeded actuarial valuation targets.
For instance, according to the 2011 external actuarial valuation of the scheme, at 3.25 per cent Real Return on Investment (RROI), the fund could be sustained till the year 2032 and at 1.25 per cent till the year 2030.
Contrary to allegations which question the sustainability of the Fund, the RROI clearly signals the viability of the Trust in the coming decades.
“It is clear from the figures that the Fund is strong and sustainable and we are happy to announce this to the contributing public”, she said.
Exposure on the GSE
In terms of investments in listed companies, SSNIT has heavily invested in the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE)
For instance, the Trust has investments in 22 out of the 36 listed companies on the local bourse.
For the financial sector investments alone, the Trust has investments in 18 companies.
The key one among them include Cal Bank where the Trust has 33.18 per cent shares; GCB bank, 29.81 per cent; HFC bank 26.14 per cent; Societe General Ghana, 22.14 per cent; Ecobank Ghana Limited, 16.19 per cent; Ghana International Bank, 15.00 per cent; and Standard Chartered Bank where it owns 14.34 per cent.
Others are SIC Company Limited, 11.80 per cent; Enterprise Group, 6.13 per cent and CDH Holdings 1.30 per cent.
Other investments
SSNIT also assists with short-term securities; that is, it provides funds to several financial institutions in the country in the form of fixed deposits, call accounts, syndications and Treasury Bill placements.
According to Ms Owusu, in the area of medium to long-term investments, the Trust has about 54.7 per cent of its portfolio invested in government/corporate bonds and loan facilities extended to companies in various sectors.
In the area of real estate, SSNIT has heavily invested in residential properties, car park complexes, community markets and malls and property management such as Broll.
For instance, in the housing sector, Ms Owusu said a total of 7,168 housing units were developed nationwide out of which 96 per cent have been sold out to mostly salaried workers.
The General Manager, Investment Development Division, Mr Noel Addo, for his part said there were new housing development projects to be undertaken.
He mentioned in particular the Dunkonaa housing project under which a total of 608 housing units are to be built.
Regarding the issues of poisonous gas emissions in that area, he said many studies had been conducted to ensure that residents there were not exposed to the gas.
“We have positive reports from environmentalists and we have assured that there is nothing to worry about; the houses are to be built to specifications in terms of height and all so there is no cause for alarm,” he said.
Mr Addo said contrary to allegations that the investments of the Trust were not performing, SSNIT had more than 99 per cent of its investments performing, leaving less than one per cent non-performing.
“Considering the size of our investment portfolio with more than 99 per cent performing and returning good yields to sustain the Fund, we believe the managers of the Trust are doing something extremely right”, he said.