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The Director of the Akim State College, a private Senior High School at Oda, Nana Yaw Asare Dzikunu, has been hauled before the Oda District Magistrate Court presided over by Mr Appiatse Abaidoo for failing to pay Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions of staff of the school as well as penalty incurred.

Nana Dzikunu owes SSNIT GH¢15,816.22, comprising workers’ contributions of GH¢12,316.72 and three per cent per annum cumulative penalty of GH¢3,499.50 levied on unpaid social security contributions from August 14, 2014 to March 15, 2015.

Initially, Nana Dzikunu pleaded not guilty to the offence, but upon interrogation and reference from the company law by the SSNIT prosecutor, Mr Edward Owusu Biney, he pleaded guilty.

The presiding judge, therefore, ordered Nana Dzikunu to a make down payment of GH¢500 and then settle the rest of the debt in two months installments to which he agreed.

Mr Biney said after several demand letters had been sent to the director and personal contacts made with him, notifying him of his obligations under the law, the accused was consequently served with criminal summons to answer charges preferred against him in court.

He warned that SSNIT would not hesitate to prosecute all defaulters, including those whose facilities had been closed down and were still owing.

The prosecutor explained that there was a window of negotiation whenever a demand letter was issued.