SSNIT Gives Workers Dec 31 Deadline To Merge Numbers With NIA

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has intensified its awareness creation campaign for Members of the SSNIT Scheme to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers, that is, the Personal ID Numbers on their Ghana Cards, before the 31st December deadline.

The merger exercise, which began in June this year, is expected to provide convenience; as Members will use only the Ghana Card for all social security transactions with SSNIT. After the merger, the NIA number will become the SSNIT number of the Member.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Corporate Affairs Manager of SSNIT, MsAfuaSarkodie, noted that workers who fail to merge their numbers will be denying themselves access to social security related services from next year. She also indicated that employers from 2022 will be required to use only the NIA numbers of their workers to process Contribution Reports and make payments.

“For employers, that will mean you cannot process your Contribution Reports and make payment, and we all know what happens if you don’t pay contributions on time; there will be penalties. So, we encourage all employers to ensure their workers merge their numbers”, she said.

She further explained that, beginning January 2022, the Ghana Card, will be the only identification recognised by the Trust.

Indeed, the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012, L.I. 2111, requires the use of the Ghana Card as identification for “transactions pertaining to individuals in respect of pensions.”

Already, SSNIT has deployed systems to allow persons to merge their numbers. They include using the short code *711*9#or the SSNIT website www.ssnit.org.gh/member.

Speaking on the same programme, the acting Public Affairs Manager at SSNIT, Mr Charles AkweiGarshong, mentioned that the merger will only be successful if Members have registered biometrically with SSNIT.

He therefore beseeched all SSNIT Contributors to do their biometric registration to be able to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers.

“Your merger will not go through if you haven’t done the biometric registration. You can visit the nearest SSNIT office for your biometric registration and proceed to merge your numbers.” he added.