A stark disparity in pension payments in Ghana has been revealed in the latest Monthly Pension League Table for 2025 published by SSNIT.
The data shows the highest-paid pensioner received a monthly payment of GH¢201,792.37 in January 2025, while the lowest-paid received GH¢514.41, highlighting a vast gulf in retirement income.
The figures indicate that the top pensioner's income is 392 times that of the lowest earner.
This gap is further emphasised by the different rates of increase applied to pensions in the 2025 indexation. While the lowest-paid pensioners saw their monthly payments rise by over 25 per cent, the increases for those at the top of the league table were around eight per cent.
For instance, the pensioner at the very top of the list received an increase of 8.04 per cent, moving from GH¢186,777.58 in December 2024 to GH¢201,792.37 in January 2025. In contrast, the pensioner at the very bottom of the list saw a 25.74 per cent increase, from GH¢409.10 to GH¢514.41.
The league tables, titled "Indexation of Pensions 2025," list the ten highest and ten lowest pension earners. The list of highest earners includes pensions as much as GH¢58,031.91, while the list of lowest earners includes payments up to GH¢669.54.
This dramatic contrast underscores the significant differences in pre-retirement contributions and earnings that determine SSNIT pension benefits.
The data provides a clear snapshot of the economic inequalities that extend into retirement for Ghanaians dependent on the national pension scheme.