The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) deserves commendation for the recent steps it has taken to streamline its operations and to address concerns of contributors.
Over the last few weeks, SSNIT has announced some measures, which in our view when effectively implemented, could go a long way to enhance its image in the face of some set-backs and put smiles on the faces of its customers especially, pensioners.
Contributors who have accessed their mail boxes since last week were pleasantly surprised to find in them their Social Security statement for 2006-2008. Surprised, because, the promise to provide the statement was given years back but it was never fulfilled. People had forgotten about it.
Such regular updates will enable contributors to know their positions and factor them in whatever plans they have for the future (pension period).
We are particularly happy about the decision by SSNIT to install an Integrated Pension Administration System, a database where pensioners can easily access their pension information. Besides, it will install a Wide Area Network (WAN) to connect all its branches countrywide.
Mr. Kwasi Boatin, the Director-General, who announced this recently, said the Trust was also adopting the technology where pensioners could access their pension benefits through mobile phone, e-zwich and other electronic means.
Even though this form of transaction is long overdue, considering the advent of ICT in the country, we believe in the saying that, it is better late than never. We encourage Mr Boatin and his team not to relent in this direction but to strive hard to ensure that the programme succeeds.
The Times has always expressed concern at the situation where old pensioners have to travel long distances, with its attendant risk and inconvenience to access their pension benefits at SSNIT offices.
The other issue has to do with the period of payment which the National Pensioners Association (NPA) raised at their meeting in Accra last Friday. According to the month, the receiving banks cause undue delay in payments, thus causing them a lot of hardships.
And even on pay days, these old pensioners are made to join long queues at the banks for hours before they are paid their pension benefits. Certainly, this is not the best for our pensioners, who have worked so hard to build the country. The Trust, must, as a matter of urgency, sit down with the banks to thrash out the issue.
We are convinced, that if management is able to implement the measures announced so far, SSNIT should be able to overcome some of the challenges that have bedeviled its operations so that workers can hope for comfortable retirement life.
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