Mrs. Rosemary Amerley Sackey, former Benefits General Manager at Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has urged the Trust to brace for Artificial Intelligence (AI) disruption to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the pension scheme.
“SSNIT must anticipate and manage the disruptive effects of AI by integrating technology responsibly while safeguarding jobs, data, and system integrity,” she said at a symposium in Accra.
The forum brought together contributors, pensioners, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance the pension scheme and secure the future of Ghanaian workers.
Mrs. Sackey noted that AI would redefine pension administration in Ghana and urged SSNIT to harness its potential while mitigating associated risks.
She called for proactive adaptation in operations, data management, and workforce development.
“We must ensure that technology strengthens, [and] not destabilise, the sustainability of the pension system,” she said.
Mrs. Sackey encouraged SSNIT to explore innovative investment avenues that deliver improved returns and maintain transparency.
“We must demonstrate value in terms of improved returns, prudent investments, and member satisfaction,” she said, adding that SSNIT must enhance public trust and brand visibility to become more accessible to all workers.
Mrs. Sackey commended SSNIT for introducing the Self-Employed Enrolment Driven (SEED) Initiative, which aims to integrate self-employed individuals into the formal pension scheme.
She called for further innovations to expand coverage and foster voluntary compliance based on trust, relevance, and value.
She also urged a renewed focus on measures that guarantee income and stimulate productivity, praising SSNIT’s resilience and role in Ghana’s economic development.
Mr. Kwesi Afreh Biney, Director-General of SSNIT, said the Trust was positioning its future on technological innovation.
“AI has come to stay and must be central to the nation’s social protection strategy,” he stated.
Mr. Biney emphasised that technology, innovation, and policy reform were essential to building a modern, inclusive, and efficient social protection system.
He said that SSNIT would leverage digital innovations, including AI, to promote inclusive social protection.
Mr. Biney expressed confidence in the collective expertise of stakeholders to strengthen the scheme and urged employers to “fight” for better basic pay.
Ghana’s pension system has undergone significant reforms over the past six decades, including the introduction of the three-tier pension scheme and SSNIT’s transformation into a modern social insurance institution.
GNA
