Kwesi Afreh Biney, Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), says the Trust is intensifying regional stakeholder engagements to deepen public understanding of the national pension scheme and strengthen transparency.

He made the remarks at the 2026 joint SSNIT and Trades Union Congress (TUC) regional forum in Koforidua, part of a nationwide initiative to educate contributors on how the scheme operates, its financial health, and expected retirement benefits.

“This engagement is meant to bring us closer to the grassroots, to understand one another and gather feedback from critical stakeholders like the Trade Union Congress,” he said.

Mr Biney noted that improving knowledge of the scheme would help reduce misinformation that often fuels disputes.

“When people understand what the scheme stands for, its benefits, and its current state, disagreements are minimised,” he added.

He described SSNIT as financially resilient, emphasising that the Trust has not defaulted on pension payments in more than six decades.

Between 2024 and 2025, he said, the scheme recorded strong performance, expanding its asset base by over 25 per cent, supported by real investment returns.

“It clearly shows a scheme that is growing and becoming more sustainable,” he said.

SSNIT currently has 2.1 million active contributors, a figure he described as low compared to Ghana’s estimated 15 million working population.

He stressed the need to expand pension coverage to the informal sector, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the workforce.

“These engagements help ensure the informal sector understands the scheme, its attractiveness, and the benefits therein,” he noted.

Mr Biney highlighted recent measures to improve accessibility, including the rollout of a virtual branch launched in December.

“You can access all services without entering any office,” he said, adding that co-location arrangements with four banks now allow contributors to access SSNIT services in banking halls.

“If you are in Mpraeso, you can go to CBG Mpraeso. If you’re in Akosombo, you can be served at GCB Akosombo,” he explained.

He attributed the scheme’s growth to strong liquidity and improved contribution inflows.

“Last year we collected over GH¢12 billion; about GH¢7 billion went into pension payments, and the rest was invested to grow the scheme,” he said.

The Secretary-General of the TUC, Mr Joshua Ansah, said the forum was helping workers better understand SSNIT operations and their future retirement benefits.

“We want our members to see how SSNIT works, the nature of its investment portfolio, and what they will receive when they retire,” he told journalists.

“Every worker must retire in dignity, not retire and die after one week,” he added.

He noted that the engagement was empowering members to independently assess their pensions.

“This forum is educating members so they can sit comfortably in their homes and check how much they’ll get when they retire,” he said.

Mr Ansah also called for discussions on increasing contribution levels, arguing that current contributions were inadequate.

“We pay more taxes than we pay as SSNIT contributions,” he said, adding that any reform would require tripartite dialogue, particularly on consolidating salaries and allowances.

SSNIT officials delivered presentations on contributions, benefits, digital services, and reforms, while participants raised concerns about processing delays, reconciliation of contributions, and identity verification.

Organisers said the regional forums form part of a national campaign themed “Empowered Unions, Secure Futures,” aimed at deepening pension literacy across Ghana.