The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is a statutory public Trust charged under the National Pensions Act, 2008 Act 766 with the administration of Ghana’s Basic National Social Security Scheme. Its mandate is to cater to the First Tier of the Three-Tier Pension Scheme. The Trust is currently the largest non-bank financial institution in Ghana.
The primary responsibility of the Trust is to replace part of the lost income of workers in Ghana due to Old Age, Invalidity, or Death of a member where dependants receive lump sum payment. It is also responsible for the payment of Emigration benefits to a non-Ghanaian member who is leaving Ghana permanently.
The Pension Scheme as administered by SSNIT has an active membership of over 1.6 million as of January 2021 with over 226,000 pensioners who regularly receive their monthly pensions from SSNIT.
The Trust was established in 1972 under NRCD 127 to administer the National Social Security Scheme. Prior to 1972, the Scheme was administered jointly by the then Department of Pensions and the State Insurance Corporation. The Trust administered the Social Security Scheme as a Provident Fund Scheme until 1991 when it was converted to a Social Insurance Pension Scheme then governed by the PNDC law 247. The scheme in Ghana was reformed by an Act of Parliament, Act 766 of 2008, and was implemented in January 2010 to replace all pension schemes in Ghana including Cap 30. In 2014, the National Pensions (Amendment) Act 883 was passed to amend portions of Act 766.
The day-to-day administration of the Trust is headed by the Director General assisted by three (3) Deputy Director Generals (DDGs).
There are seven (7) General Managers in charge of Investment and Development (IDD), General Counsel (GC), Finance, Operations, Administration and Human Resources (ADMIN/HR), Management Information Systems (MIS), and Benefits. Other responsibilities under the Directorate include that of the Chief Actuary, the Chief Internal Auditor, the Company Secretary, and the Corporate Affairs Manager.
BENEFITS & QUALIFYING CONDITIONS.
Four (4) Benefits:
- Superannuation Pension
- Invalidity Pension
- Survivors Lump Sum
- Emigration Benefit
Qualifying Conditions:
- Qualifying period of 240 months (20 years) reduced to 180 months (15 years)
- Guaranteed Survivors benefits payment period increased from 12 to 15 years.
- Increase in guaranteed pension payment period from 12 to 15 years. That is 72 to 75 years
- Hazardous employment benefit – underground miner to retire at age 55 with full retirement benefit.
- Must be between 50 and 60 years to benefit.
• It is a Defined Benefit
• Return of contributions plus interest is given when one does not qualify for any of the two (2) benefits.
• Established a Regulator which is the National Pensions Regulatory Authority -NPRA.
SSNIT has a decentralised operational system made up of the Area, Branch, Day Offices and an Agency. An Operations Coordinator at the Head Office co-ordinates all operational activities and reports to the General Manager, Operations.
There are eight (8) Area Offices, fifty-one (51) Branches, twenty-three (23) Day Offices and an Agency spread throughout the country.
Below is list of SSNIT branches in Accra, contact numbers and address:
- SSNIT OFFICE WEIJA – ACCRA
Contact Number: (0302) 850216, 850220.
Branch Location Address: GS-0127-2138.
- SSNIT OFFICE ACHIMOTA – ACCRA
Contact Number: (0302) 402210, 402300.
Branch Location Address: GA-303-8059.
- SSNIT OFFICE KOKOMLEMLE – GREATER ACCRA REGION
Contact Number: 0289522901, 0289522905.
Branch Location Address: GA-070-4027.
- SSNIT OFFICE ACCRA INDUSTRIAL AREA
Contact Number: (0302)225233, 256347, 232997, 232998.
Branch Location Address: GA-134-6864.
- SSNIT OFFICE KORLE BU – ACCRA
Contact Number: (0302) 660172, 0289522900.
Branch Location Address: GA-221-3759.
- SSNIT OFFICE LEGON – GHANA
Contact Number: (0302) 506224, 506226.
Branch Location Address: GA-289-5494.
- SSNIT OFFICE ACCRA AIRPORT CITY
Contact Number: (0302) 774216, 774217.
Branch Location Address: GL-126-4342.
- SSNIT OFFICE ACCRA CENTRAL
Contact Number: (0302) 664987/8.
Branch Location Address: GA-105-0070.
- SSNIT OFFICE ACCRA PENSION HOUSE
Contact Number: (0302) 667731, 667736, 668664, 668665.
Branch Location Address: GA-107-4293.
- SSNIT OFFICE ADABRAKA – GHANA
Contact Number: (0302) 669493, 669504.
Branch Location Address: GA-105-3829.
- SSNIT OFFICE TESHIE/NUNGUA
Contact Number: (0302) 711022, 711024, 711025.
Branch Location Address: GZ-043-3594.
- SSNIT OFFICE TEMA COMMUNITY 2
Contact Number: (0303) 204007, 213507, 213509.
Branch Location Address: GT 055-2289.
- SSNIT OFFICE TEMA HARBOUR – GHANA
Contact Number: (0303) 206802, 207375 – 9.
Branch Location Address: GT-057-2531.