SSNIT will save US$17 million in merger with Ghana Card

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has disclosed that the integration of databases with the National Identification Authority (NIA) will save the country US$17 million.

The Director-General of SSNIT, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, said this at a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

He explained that there would be no printing of new biometric cards by SSNIT for its members, saving them significant amounts of money.

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said that SSNIT previously incurred $7, or about GH₵ 42, per the printing of a biometric card, but that has now reduced to 60 pesewas per person.

Providing an update on the integration process, he stated that since the commencement of the merger, 510,102 SSNIT members have been integrated with the NIA’s database system.

In addition, 495,000 individuals who provided their SSNIT numbers to NIA during their registration for the Ghana Card have already been integrated automatically into the NIA database system.

The SSNIT boss stated that individuals who provided their SSNIT numbers during NIA registration do not have to go through these steps because their numbers have already been merged.

This incorporation, Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said, has made the verification and authentication of individuals who have successfully gone through the process, easy.

Meanwhile, individual SSNIT contributors can integrate their personal data with the NIA’s database system independently.

This could be done either through an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) system or by visiting the website of SSNIT.

Those who would use the USSD system would have to dial *711*9#, select option 2 to check merger status, and enter SSNIT or NIA number. Thereafter, their status would be retrieved and sent to their email.

On the other hand, the Trust’s website – www.ssnit.org.gh – could be used to complete the integration process.

For those who cannot use any of these processes, they would have to visit the nearest SSNIT branch to be assisted to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers.

Such individuals need to carry along their Ghana Card, or  NIA numbers, valid email address, and phone number.

The Director-General then indicated that effective July 15, 2021, all workers must provide the Ghana Card before being enrolled on to the SSNIT scheme.

Also, from January 2022, employers would be required to pay contributions for their workers using the NIA number, which is now the SSNIT number. This applies to the self-employed as well.

The merger between SSNIT and NIA, which started on Monday, June 28, 2021, is in compliance with the law.

Thus, Regulation 7(1) of the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012, L.I. 2111, requires the use of the Ghana Card for “transactions pertaining to individuals in respect of pension.

The adoption is also in fulfilment of a directive from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority.

READ ALSO: Three Things You Must Know As Ghana Card Replaces SSNIT Number

The SSNIT-NIA merger largely forms part of the country’s process of synchronising all forms and needs of national identity with the National Identity Card (Ghana Card).

Already, it is impossible to access nearly all financial and governmental services without one’s Ghana Card.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Passport Office as well as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) all require the Ghana Card now and will insist on that particular form of identification going forward.