Victoria Baidoo, Member and client service manager of Social Security and National Insurance trust (SSNIT) says the merger of the National Identification Authority (NIA) and SSNIT cards is to provide convenience for individuals.
Speaking during a discussion on the merger which commences today, she explained that the idea of the initiative is to get its members to conduct their transactions with one card.
“The NIA-SSNIT merger is simply a process where we link your social security number to your NIA card number. The personal ID number that you have on your card, we link it up to your social security number. What this means is that your NIA number will now become your social security number.
“We always try to give convenience to people. If you can do the job with one card, why do you have to hold two cards? We are thinking that,;if we merge the NIA and social security number for our members to carry just one card,;it will become so easy for them to use the card in transacting business with us.”
Victoria Baidoo
Victoria Baidoo further stated that the initiative has come about as a response to what the law requires. She added that her outfits goal is to make the Ghana card the default card for all SSNIT related transactions.
“Also, we know we have the National Identity register regulation,;it requires that we use the Ghana card for transactions in respect of pensions. So, we are responding to what the law requires to do. We are also fulfilling the directive by our directors [National Pensions Regulatory Authority] has directed that we ensure that we have one card which will be used in transacting business with SSNIT.”
Victoria Baidoo
Merger can be online or via phone
Touching on the practicality of the initiative, Racheal Kpapo, Contact Centre manager for SSNIT also speaking disclosed that, SSNIT has simplified the process and as such can be done online or via the mobile phone.
“We have adopted two ways of doing it. It will run through the USSD which is the short code and also using our website. There you go through the process which will ensure your registration.”
Racheal Kpapo
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), will from today, 28th June, 2021, deploy systems that allow Members of the Scheme to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers (Personal ID numbers on their Ghana Cards).
According to SSNIT, once the merger of the SSNIT and NIA numbers is complete, members can use their Ghana Cards to transact business with the Trust. The Insurance Trust asked the general public to note that, effective July 15, 2021, all new joiners to the SSNIT scheme must provide their Ghana Cards as identification in order to enroll onto the scheme.
Management also urged all members of the scheme to ensure that their numbers are merged for a smooth transition.
“All employers will also be required to use only the NIA numbers of their workers to process contribution reports and make payments. Voluntary contributors will have to pay their contributions using their NIA numbers.”
SSNIT
