SSNIT to computerise operations
      

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Tuesday said it will computerise its operations to enhance the social security culture as part of its developmental reform processes.
    
Mr Ernest Thompson, Director General of SSNIT, said the new system is aimed at paying all pensions electronically through Bank of Ghana Automatic Clearing Housing System. 
    
Mr Thompson who said this in a speech read on his behalf when the Retired SSNIT Staff Association  held a symposium on the current state of developmental reforms progress on the scheme.
    
The theme for the symposium: “Current State of Pensions reforms in Ghana,” is to create the platform for discussions on reformed policies on social security by SSNIT and the National Pensions Regulation Authority.
    
Mr Thompson said the average pensioner population in August 2014, has increased to about 130,000 as against 107,312 in 2010.
     
He said in order to achieve organisational transformation, operational excellence and superior customer service is needed.
    
He said SSNIT has embarked upon a technology driven project known as Operational Business Suite Project (OBS) to manage the core operational activities including the registration of members, payment of contribution, compliance enforcement, benefits administration and relation management.
    
He pointed out that some of the features of the OBS are biometric verification of SSNIT sites to replace manual finger print verification.
   
Mr Thompson noted that the centralised database would capture all branches, submissions of contribution reports through SSNIT portal, payment of contribution through the bank, use of multiple access for transaction processing and accessing information and provision of contact centre to provide superior customer service.
    
“It is important to note that the data centre was launched in August 2014 to create access for transaction for employers and members and the public to make inquiries, lodge complaints and provide feedback.”
    
He said management has changed the annual completion of life certificates to every three years, provide annual accounts and update information especially address and telephone numbers on every pensioner and worker for easy contact.
    
Mr Laud Senanu, Chief Executive Officer of National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA) said his outfit has implemented the three-tier pension scheme to provide benefits to ensure retirement income security for workers from both the private and public sectors.
   
Mr Senanu thus urged trustees, pension fund managers and pension fund custodians who are the service providers to keep proper accounting record of members register and prepare annual report related to pension funds invested for members of the various scheme.
    
He also appealed to stakeholders as well as employees to play their watch dog roles in the provision of services to keep SSNIT and NPRA in check to be able to discharge their duties as expected.             

 
SOURCE: GNA