The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has officially launched the 2024 SSNIT Mobile Service (SMS) Week in a ceremony held at the Elmina Fishing Harbour.
The event, which also marked the introduction of the SSNIT Digital Bouquet, underscores the organization’s commitment to improving service delivery and expanding pension coverage to workers across Ghana, particularly those in the informal sector.
The Director-General of SSNIT, Mr. Kofi Osafo-Maafo, in his keynote address emphasised the significance of this year’s Mobile Service Week, highlighting the Trust’s efforts to bring its services closer to members and the public.
“This week’s event is not just about getting people here; it is a celebration of our commitment to ensuring that the future of every worker in Ghana, including the self-employed, is protected,” he said.
Mr. Osafo-Maafo outlined the achievements of the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) initiative, which aims to extend pension coverage to self-employed persons and informal sector workers.
The initiative has seen a remarkable increase in enrolment, with over 100,000 self-employed workers joining the SSNIT Scheme within a year, representing a 700% increase from the 13,000 workers signed up in 2023.
Despite this progress, Mr. Osafo-Maafo pointed out that more work remains to be done.
“Of the 6.7 million self-employed workers in Ghana, only about 100,000 are covered by SSNIT, which is just 3.2% of those who qualify. Our intention is to sign up as many more from the informal sector as we can,” he stated, urging more workers to enrol in the SSNIT Scheme to secure their financial future.
The launch of the SSNIT Digital Bouquet, a key highlight of the event, introduced several digital platforms designed to enhance member engagement and service delivery.
The bouquet includes a new website and portal, an upgraded USSD platform and the much-anticipated SSNIT Mobile App.
These platforms will enable members to register, access their account statements, pay contributions and apply for benefits with greater convenience.
Ms. Gifty Turkson, the Area Manager for Takoradi, expressed optimism about the impact of these digital innovations on service delivery.
“The SSNIT Digital Bouquet will significantly improve the ease with which members and clients transact business with us. We are confident that this will enhance the overall customer experience and encourage more people to engage with SSNIT,” she said.
The event also served as an opportunity to educate the public on the benefits of joining the SSNIT Scheme.
Mr. Osafo-Maafo reiterated the importance of regular contributions to the scheme, emphasizing that the amount contributed directly impacts the pension benefits received upon retirement.
He also highlighted the additional benefits of SSNIT, including Invalidity invalidity pension, which provides financial support to members who are unable to work due to accidents or permanent illness, and survivors’ benefits, which offer life insurance to members’ dependents.
SSNIT’s commitment to prudent financial management was also underscored, with Mr. Osafo-Maafo reassuring members that their contributions are being managed effectively to ensure long-term sustainability and maximum returns.
The 2024 SSNIT Mobile Service Week will see SSNIT staff deployed to 76 locations across the country, providing a range of services including member registration, benefit processing, and account reactivation.
The event will run until August 25, 2024, with camps set up at strategic locations to make SSNIT services more accessible to the public.
As the SSNIT Mobile Service Week gets underway, SSNIT encourages all workers, particularly those in the informal sector, to take advantage of the week’s activities and sign up for the scheme to secure their financial future.
