Published on 20 July, 2017.

THE SSNIT Web Portal, which is another module of the Operational Business Suite (OBS), meant to provide customers with convenient service delivery has been launched at Pension House in Accra.

The event was witnessed by a large number of dignitaries including representatives of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), the Trades Union Congress, Ghana Employers Association, the SSNIT Pensioners Association, the SSNIT Executive Team, staff and the media...

The event was witnessed by a large number of dignitaries including representatives of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), the Trades Union Congress, Ghana Employers Association, the SSNIT Pensioners Association, the SSNIT Executive Team, staff and the media.

The Portal among other things, allows the various stakeholders to perform value-added services at whatever location they find themselves. It brings vast information and service resources available from many sources to them and also serves as a channel to communicate with SSNIT through enquiries, requests and complaints.

Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, the Director Generalof SSNIT who launched the Portal, asked the various stakeholders to embrace the Web Portal in order to make maximum use of it.

He explained that over the years, SSNIT has taken various steps to computerize its operations, starting with the District Operating System (DOS), through the Branch Operating System (E-BOS), to the Integrated Pensions Administrative System (IPAS), to the present OBS.

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said for over 45 years, SSNIT was handling its operations manually which significantly affected the Trust’s ability to respond to the needs of customers and stakeholders in a timely and efficient manner.This significantly affected service delivery.

“SSNIT has now fully automated most of its business processes, thus putting us in a position to process transactions and provide information to customers in a speedy manner,” he said.

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said Benefits processing which was a critical issue for the Trust because of delays has been fully automated and turnaround time that used to be months and in some cases years, had been reduced to an average of a week.

He said about 180,000 pensioners on SSNIT pension payroll are paid with dispatch on a monthly basis and the Trust is spared some pensioner complaints and agitations.

“We want to make it easier for you to transact business with us. We realise that there are many transactions such as viewing and printing of account statements, initiation of benefit applications, checking on benefit payments that in this day of information technology, one can do in the comfort of their own homes and offices,” he told the gathering.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we want to bring SSNIT closer to you. To date, we have only been reaching you through the print media, radio and television. Now we want you to interact with us through your cell phones, iPads, laptops and desktops through multiple channels such as this web portal and social media,” he added.

Dr Ofori Tenkorang said at present over 300 employers validate contribution reports through the SSNIT web portal and make payments, on monthly basis, to the many banks that SSNIT partners with.

He said even though he would like customers and stakeholders to make maximum use of technology, he was cognizant that there are several instances that they would have to interact with the Trust in the Branches and offices.

The Director General said staff are being trained to be efficient and courteous in the discharge of their duties.

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said the Trust would soon publish the number for a hotline solely meant for complaints on staff that have been discourteous in the discharge of their duties for investigation and sanctioning when necessary.

“We take the business of customer service seriously. After all, you are the reason why we exist. Without you giving us your money, we wouldn’t have jobs!” he admitted.

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said the Trust looked forward to many innovations in the future to make it easier for customers to transact business with the Trust and bring unparalled service delivery to their doorstep.

Mr Stephen Asamoah, Acting GM, Operations, who gave an overview of the SSNIT Web Portal, explained that the Internal System, called Account Management System

is used for the management of Portal IDs. It is used by the Portal Operators who are charged with the management and maintenance of the portal and report generation.

He said the External System is used by SSNIT stakeholders and the public to interact with the Trust.

Mr Asamoah said the External System consists of the Public and Private Lobbies: The Public Lobby is a self-service which allows the public to transact business with SSNIT without the need for identification nor authentication while the Private Lobby allows all registered SSNIT customers such as Employees, Employers and Pensioners to transact business with SSNIT after due process for identification and authentication has been completed.

Mr Ashitey Mensah, a representive of the NPRA said the launch of the web portal is another milestone by SSNIT which will enable customers to gain easy access to online services.