Minister of State for Public Sector Reforms, Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, has disclosed that her office is working closely with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to address accessibility challenges faced by contributors and pensioners, particularly in districts without banking services.
She explained that the lack of banks in some districts makes it difficult for pensioners—especially the elderly—to access SSNIT benefits, as many are unable to travel long distances to areas where banks operate.
Speaking to Citi News during a courtesy visit to SSNIT to discuss public sector reforms and service delivery, Mrs. Akanvariba acknowledged the difficulties but said collaborative efforts are underway to provide innovative, technology-driven solutions.
“Because in every organisation, there are challenges. Challenges of receivers, challenges of their operations, challenges of districts where there are no banks — what do they do? But in all that, they are trying to create a digital platform where people without banks can still access the services in their contributions and in their payments.
Because currently we have a lot of pensioners who need to collect their payment, and they are so old that going to the bank is another issue,” she said.
She also highlighted plans to introduce tele-health services to improve healthcare access for SSNIT contributors and pensioners, describing it as a forward-looking innovation.
“And again, what is more striking is the tele-health. Tele-health is where they are going to provide health services to people through normal digital platform communication.
I think I had the opportunity of seeing such a thing in Ethiopia. It is being done in Kenya, actually; they have rolled it out. And I think that is an innovation that will go a long way to help their service delivery,” she added.
Director-General of SSNIT, Kwasi Afreh Biney, outlined additional initiatives aimed at improving accessibility. He said SSNIT will soon establish service desks within district assemblies to bring its services closer to residents in underserved areas.
“Our strategy was to grow using the banks as the first point of that expansion drive with a co-location strategy. We’re not just limiting ourselves to the banks. So we would get into spaces where probably even the District Assembly can become a point of contact for SSNIT, where we station our people to provide our services to the people in those communities,” he explained.
Mr. Biney further noted that SSNIT is enhancing its virtual infrastructure to allow clients to access services remotely from their homes, improving convenience and efficiency.
“Additionally, we are setting up our virtual infrastructure and improving it each day, such that people can engage with us without necessarily leaving the comfort of their homes. So those are initiatives meant to improve accessibility and convenience for the people,” he stated.
He added that as part of efforts to enhance returns on investment, SSNIT is planning major expansion projects at the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, both of which are fully owned by the Trust.
“We have begun conversations to undertake major expansion works at the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Hotel, where we hold 100% shares,” he said.
