The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has begun processes of merging its register with the national common platform provided by the National Identification Authority (NIA).
The merger is simply a process to link the SSNIT numbers of members to their NIA numbers, i.e. the personal ID number on the Ghana Card. What this means is that the NIA numbers will become members’ SSNIT numbers after the merger.
The process, which started on June 28, 2021, will be completed by the end of the year, and will help SSNIT capture persons in the informal economy as contributors to the Trust and improve its ease of doing business.
Common platform
Speaking to journalists, as part of the engagement process, the Executive Secretary of the NIA, Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah underscored the importance of the integration, stressing that “this provide Ghanaians with a common platform for more effective and efficient identification system.”
He said the integration means individuals can now merge their SSNIT and Ghana Card ID numbers using a USSD code on their phones by dialing *711*9# and follow the prompt to merge their SSNIT number with that of the NIA.
This, he said, would help members use one card, that is the Ghana Card, for multiple transactions, noting that members don’t have to carry a separate card for SSNIT transactions.
Immense benefits
Touching on the benefits of a common platform, Director-General of SSNIT, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, said the integration will allow members to check or print their SSNIT statements of accounts, pay contributions, apply for their benefits and perform other social security activities with SSNIT using the Ghana Card.
He said the ongoing process means 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 noting that members cannot apply for their benefits without
However, the merger will not affect payment of pensions to those on the pension payroll. Pensioners who are due to renew their pensioners’ certificate must provide the Ghana Card or NIA number for identification.
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