The adoption of the Ghana Card for pension transaction implies that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has complied with directive from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority.
This directive is a legal requirement specified under Regulation 7(1) of the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012, L.I. 2111, which requires the use of the Ghana Card for “transactions pertaining to individuals in respect of pension”.
Earlier, the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr, John Ofori-Tenkorang noted during a stakeholder consultation that there is no need to carry two cards when one can do the job. This implies that Members don’t have to carry a separate card for SSNIT transactions.
The Trust, on Monday, 28th June, 2021, began merging the SSNIT and NIA numbers of Members. The import of this merger, according to SSNIT, is expected to create convenience as Members can now use one card, that is, the Ghana Card, for multiple transactions.
Aside convenience, the merger also ties in with the Trust’s quest to improve the ease with which Members and Clients do business with SSNIT. For instance, nominated dependants of deceased Members will easily be identified.
This, according to SSNIT, will help avoid unnecessary delays and reduce fraud and impersonation in processing and paying Survivors’ Benefits.
Already, the Trust has deployed platforms to allow Members merge their numbers. These include the use of a short code (*711*9#) and the SSNIT website (www.ssnit.org.gh). The Trust is entreating Members to use any of these two platforms and follow the prompt to merge their numbers.
However, Members who cannot use either the short code or website to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers are encouraged to visit the nearest SSNIT Branch with their Ghana Card, SSNIT number, valid email addresses and phone number to be assisted to merge numbers.
Merger
This merger, is simply a process to link the SSNIT numbers of Members to their NIA numbers. What this means is that the NIA numbers will become Members’ SSNIT numbers after the merger.
Members who provided their SSNIT numbers during NIA registration do not have to go through these steps because their numbers have already been merged. To be sure if the merger has been done, Members should dial same short code (*711*9#) and select option 2 to check their merger status.
After the merger is done, every activity that one could perform with the SSNIT number, can now be done with the Ghana Card or NIA number. These activities include checking or printing of SSNIT Statements of Accounts, payment of contributions, applying for benefits among others.
The Trust has indicated that from January 2022, Members who fail to merge their numbers will not be able to transact business with the Trust. This is because, the Ghana Card will be the only accepted identification for Members to transact business with SSNIT. This also means Members cannot apply for their benefits.
Similarly, starting 15th July, 2021, all workers must provide the Ghana Card before enrolled onto the SSNIT Scheme.
The merger will however not affect payment of pensions to those on the pension payroll. However, pensioners who are due to renew their Pensioners’ Certificate will be required to provide their Ghana Card or NIA number for identification.
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