Kwasi Afreh Biney
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has hinted of establishing a 24-hour virtual platform to enhance services to its clients across the country by September 2025.
Director-General of SSNIT, Mr. Kwesi Afreh Biney, who disclosed this at the Employers’ Breakfast Meeting in Accra, said the virtual branch which will be based at the head office in Accra will be managed by staff who would be available at all times to address the concerns of its members.
He said, “We are confident that by the end of September this year, a fully digital virtual branch will be available for members to engage with us. The virtual branch will sit at head office, but because it’s virtual you can dial in through any of the channels via phone, USSD, internet and we are available to serve you 24/7.”
According to the Director-General, all the digital platforms would make it more convenient for members of the scheme to comply with what is expected of them at all times without necessarily visiting the offices to queue for support, including payment of their SSNIT contributions.
He also indicated that officials of SSNIT are tracking how employers comply with their requirements every month.
“When a member or an employee flouts the rules, we begin first with engagement. We engage and provide the support required, what we have today are digital platforms that enable you to engage with us to register and adhere to the requirements,” he stated.
“What we are seeking to do is to scale that to the next level where you have a virtual branch manned by people. For instance, today, whoever dials into our data centre and requests for things to be done at that point, that person picks the information and relies on the existing departments or branches to give you feedback,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Employers’ Association, Mr. Alex Frimpong, appealed to SSNIT to continue to educate employees and employers given the question that usually arise for people to know their pension income, the format for the calculation, and what their survivors would get.
He, however, commended SSNIT for rolling out various digital services in recent past considering the demands of members who may not be readily available to visit their offices at all times.
He noted, “The world is digitalised now and SSNIT must ensure that the digital platforms will enhance interaction and compliance of all SSNIT requirements.”
The event, which brought together representatives of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), Trade Union Congress (TUC), the National Pensions Regulatory Authority among other notable individuals, was held under the theme “Strengthening Employer Compliance for Sustainable Pension Scheme through Digital Transformation.”
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah