The Social Security and National Investment Trust (SSNIT) has celebrated its six decades of service with a symposium that evaluated the legacy of the Trust.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at its luxurious La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, SSNIT and its stakeholders shared their accomplishments and challenges over the past 60 years, and devised innovative strategies to enhance the Trust’s growth for the future.
The symposium was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including pensioners, active contributors and investment partners.
Two presentations on the Trust’s legacy of service and the future of social security in Ghana and service delivery in the AI era set the tone for the panel discussions and open forum of SSNIT’s 60 years of service.
SERVICE
However, the Director General of SSNIT, Mr Kwesi Afreh Biney, delivered a keynote address to mark the occasion of the SSNIT at 60 Years symposium.
The DG in his address highlighted that SSNIT has, for many years, served its people well, not defaulting in its obligations to provide income security for Ghanaian workers.
“And we have invested not only in the systems that enable us to serve you but also in the national infrastructure that supports businesses to grow and strengthens confidence in the economy. This, we believe, is truly a legacy of service over a six-decade period,” he asserted.
FUTURE
According to DG, SSNIT looks to the future with hope, purpose and clarity, stating that the 3-tier pension scheme remains a vital pillar in the national development. Indicating that the 3-tier scheme ensures that public, private, and informal workers are captured, Mr Afreh Biney commended former DG, John Ofori Tinkorang for the tremendous role he played in that.
Moving forward, he committed SSNIT to making the first-tier scheme “stronger, more inclusive, transparent and responsive to the rapidly evolving world of work.”
Working with the Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment, as well as the National Pensions Regulatory Authority, SSNIT seeks to ensure that all 3 tiers complement each other to achieve its goals.
Mr Afreh Biney reiterated the resolve of SSNIT to expand coverage, leading to partnering banks with wider reach to have SSNIT branches.
The Trust has also set up and intensified its digital department as a means of expanding its customer service, making it easy for the public to access SSNIT products digitally.
INVESTMENT
Speaking to the media on the sideline of the symposium, the DG mentioned that last Monday, Ecobank Ghana Plc commenced serving SSNIT customers at their Tema branch.
Other banks expected to roll out are Fidelity, GCB Bank, and Calbank, all of which the Trust holds shares in.
Though he did not mention when the rest would begin, the DG added that they plan to roll out 27 branches by the end of the year.
When asked about SSNIT’s investments, the DG confidently informed journalists that their “investments are strong”, stating that their investment on the Ghana Stock Exchange this year had grown by over GH¢1.8 billion.
While investing heavily in the financial, hospitality and energy sectors, SSNIT is reconsidering its investment in real estate. The DG told the media that SSNIT was not performing well in that sector and thus would sell some of its investment in the real estate sector and push into areas it is doing well.
LEGACY
Former General Manager of Benefits, Mrs. Rosemary Amerley Sackey, delivered the first presentation for the panel discussion, outlining the various phases that SSNIT had passed and concluding with the plan for the future. She urged participants to ponder on how social security, as SSNIT, could evolve to guarantee income not only at retirement, but also stimulate productivity, intergenerational solidarity, and economic renewal.
In closing, she said, “May SSNIT’s next 60 years be marked by deeper inclusion, stronger partnerships, and even greater trust to the extent that the next generation of leaders guard this legacy with integrity, innovate with courage and remember that behind every contribution lies a life, a family and a future.”
The Dean of the UPSA Law School, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, made the second presentation on the future of social security in Ghana and service delivery in the AI era.
The open forum allowed participants to ask probing questions, particularly about the sustainability of the Trust’s ability to deliver on its obligations.
Several innovative ideas were proffered to make SSNIT better for the future, including a suggestion that the pension be calculated on the gross salary and not the basic.
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