METROPOLITAN INSURANCE Company Limited (MET) is the first and only insurance company in Ghana to design a savings and investment policy specifically and peculiarly for Moslems in accordance with Islamic Sharia Laws.
The policy is based on the Islamic profits sharing principle of al Mudharabah and reciprocal guarantee principle of al Takaful. Within five years of its operation, it has won the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana's insurance company of the year awarded three times.
The Business Chronicle learnt that MET rose to the number two position in the insurance industry in 1999, and has maintained this ranking to date, despite intense competition.
MET is a multi-line insurance company with proven competence and record of accomplishment among a large number of individuals and blue chip clientele. The company offers a full range of insurance products covering life and pensions, general and accident insurance.
In an interview with the chief executive director of the company, Mr. Martin Wright, he stated that his company was incorporated in January 1994 as a composite insurer under the name Madison Insurance Company Limited. In 1997, Madison was recapitalised and its vision and mission redefined under a new management team.
He added that the team, made up of professionals in actuarial science, insurance, finance and accounting, marketing, law and medicine, was put together to harmonize the company's strategy and culture and to facilitate the achievement of corporate goals.
According to him, MET has a gold plan which is the first interest sensitive life insurance product in Ghana, which offers the policyholder a hedge against inflation. It was launched in August 1997 as a dedicated saving plan with a life assurance cover, designed to meet your retirement needs.
"You can surrender your investment after one year, or withdraw up to10 % of the cash value of the accumulation account surrender charge," he stated. Explaining, he asserted that the policyholder makes a planned minimum monthly contribution. This contribution is credited to an investment account that is invested with fund.
According to him, at the end of each policy year, the holder receives a statement of account showing total contributions, death benefit, cash value and interest declared and earned. Each statement will also show any debits and credits during the previous year.
The initial life cover increases with the growth of your accumulation account. The life cover at death in all cases by the MET school plan is the first inflation linked education insurance policy in Ghana, which offers parents and guardians a pragmatic plan to finance the education of their children right from child-birth to the Tertiary level.
Adults can also use the policy to finance their own education, including continuing professional development. He disclosed that the benefits of this plan were to have easy access to funds to meet school expenses after at least a three-year contribution period.
The CEO told the paper that the policy earned attractive interest, and is freely transferable to any child or ward, and in cases such as accident, death or injury, the benefactor pays a lump sum equal to the initial death benefit covered on the death.