Accra: Government has successfully cleared all outstanding pension contributions for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for the year 2025 and has proactively paid GHS156 million in advance towards its January 2026 obligation. This move has significantly bolstered the Trust's cash flow, with government-employed contributors making up 43 percent of total contributions, thereby enhancing the scheme's financial stability.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kwesi Afreh Biney, Director-General of SSNIT, revealed this development during a stakeholder engagement with Organised Labour in Accra. He praised the Ministry of Finance and the Controller and Accountant-General for ensuring the timely payment of contributions. He mentioned that the only outstanding contribution still being validated was for July 2026, which was due from August 14, indicating that the government remains largely current with its obligations to the pension scheme.
Mr. Biney stated, "The government paid all contributions for 2025 on time and even made an advance payment of GHS156 million in December 2025, covering part of the January 2026 obligation. Timely government payments are critical to SSNIT's stability. After years of previous delays, the government's clearing of 2025 arrears and early payment for 2026 now helps ensure the Trust can pay over 265,000 pensioners and sustain the fund long term."
The announcement comes as SSNIT reports growth in contributions, investments, and active membership, which increased to over 2.17 million by the end of July 2026. "This marks a growth from 820,000 active members in 1991 to just over two million by the end of 2025 as the Trust's new three-year corporate strategy targets an additional 300,000 members annually, aiming for 2.8 million active contributors by 2028," Mr. Biney added.
SSNIT collected more than GHS12 billion in contributions in 2025, with GHS6.7 billion collected in the first six months of 2026, reflecting increased membership and improved compliance. Assets under management rose from GHS28.4 billion at the end of 2025 to GHS35.4 billion by June 2026, an increase of GHS7 billion in six months. Equities accounted for 59 percent of the investment portfolio, with Mr. Biney attributing the growth in assets partially to strong performance on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).
Real returns on investment rose from above 10 percent in 2025 to over 18 percent in June 2026, reflecting strategic investment allocation across equities, fixed income, real estate, and energy assets. "SSNIT currently supports more than 265,000 pensioners, paying out GHS3.83bn in benefits in the first half of 2026 alone, following GHS6.7bn disbursed across the whole of 2025," Mr. Biney noted.
SSNIT is expanding access to its services through a 24-hour virtual branch launched in December 2024 and a bank co-location programme with Ecobank, Fidelity, GCB, and Consolidated Bank. This initiative has established 15 service points, with a target of 100 by the end of 2027. Additionally, the Trust introduced a Member Value Proposition (MVP) initiative, offering discounts to contributors and pensioners through more than 49 partner businesses, alongside free co-branded Visa cards issued in partnership with Ecobank.
Mr. Biney also highlighted a telehealth service launched approximately three months ago, providing pensioners with remote consultation, diagnosis, and free medication delivery through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), especially benefiting those in remote areas or with mobility constraints. These initiatives aim to enhance customer experience and support the long-term sustainability of the national pension scheme.
Mr. Isaac Bampoe Addo, Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association, Ghana (CLOGSAG), acknowledged the improvements in SSNIT's operations and investment returns compared to previous years. He encouraged SSNIT to ensure that enhanced investment returns directly benefit members and reaffirmed CLOGSAG's commitment to supporting the Trust's membership drive through pension literacy programmes and encouraging employees to comply with contribution payments.