On 12 November 2026, People’s Pension Trust Ghana Limited (PPT) and Pan‑African Savings and Loans unveiled SmartPensions at Madina Market, a new initiative designed to bring pension planning to Ghana’s informal workforce.
The programme targets market traders, artisans, drivers, entrepreneurs and other self‑employed individuals, offering them the option to contribute to a retirement fund on a flexible basis – daily, weekly or monthly – rather than the traditional lump‑sum or formal‑sector model.
Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Issaka, speaking at the launch, said the partnership reflects PPT’s commitment to making retirement planning accessible to people across different occupations and income levels. He added, “For too long, pension savings have been seen as something mainly for people in formal employment. Yet, the market trader, the entrepreneur, the artisan and the self‑employed person also deserve a comfortable and dignified retirement.”
Issaka highlighted that the collaboration with Pan‑African Savings and Loans would bring pension services closer to ordinary Ghanaians, allowing them to save while going about their daily activities. “SmartPensions represents an opportunity for more people to save towards tomorrow while going about their daily activities today,” he added.
Managing Director Jacqueline Dufie Mpare of Pan‑African Savings and Loans said the service would make retirement savings more convenient and accessible, especially for those who find it difficult to build long‑term funds. “We are saying that just as for us in the formal sector, in formal employment, what the government has curated pensions to take care of our retirement, we want to do the same for them,” she explained.
The launch is part of broader efforts to deepen pension inclusion in Ghana, a country where extending retirement coverage beyond the formal sector remains a key strategy for strengthening long‑term financial security.
Looking ahead, the partnership aims to encourage consistent savings habits among informal sector workers, helping them prepare financially for retirement.
