Rosemary Amerley Sackey, former General Manager in charge of Benefits at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), has called on the Trust to prepare strategically for the inevitable disruption that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will bring to pension administration in Ghana.
Speaking at a symposium in Accra that brought together contributors, pensioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders, Mrs. Sackey said the integration of AI into SSNIT’s operations was no longer optional but a necessity for long-term sustainability.
“SSNIT must anticipate and manage the disruptive effects of AI by integrating technology responsibly while safeguarding jobs, data, and system integrity,” she cautioned.
According to her, the next phase of social protection delivery in Ghana will be shaped by how effectively SSNIT embraces digital transformation while balancing innovation with human welfare and institutional trust.
She noted that AI has the potential to redefine pension administration by improving efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery but warned that the same technology could also pose risks if not properly managed.
READ ALSO
Sackey urged the Trust to take a proactive approach in modernising its operations, data management, and workforce development. “We must ensure that technology strengthens and not destabilises, the sustainability of the pension system,” she stressed.
She also called on SSNIT to diversify its investment portfolio and explore innovative, technology-driven avenues that guarantee higher returns and long-term stability.
“We must demonstrate value in terms of improved returns, prudent investments, and member satisfaction,” she added, highlighting that transparency and effective communication are essential to rebuilding public confidence in the scheme.
Commending SSNIT for introducing the Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) initiative, which seeks to integrate self-employed workers into the formal pension structure, Mrs. Sackey encouraged the Trust to expand its coverage through innovation and voluntary compliance based on trust, relevance, and value creation.
She further urged SSNIT to strengthen measures that guarantee income security and stimulate productivity in line with Ghana’s broader economic development goals.
In response, Kwesi Afreh Biney, Director-General of SSNIT, reaffirmed the Trust’s commitment to embedding technological innovation into its core strategy.
“AI has come to stay and must be central to the nation’s social protection strategy,” Biney said, emphasising that SSNIT’s future depends on how well it leverages digital tools to enhance inclusivity and efficiency.
He said that SSNIT’s current reforms focus on using technology, innovation, and sound policy to build a resilient and transparent pension system that responds to the evolving needs of Ghana’s workforce.
The SSNIT boss expressed confidence in the expertise of industry stakeholders and social partners to strengthen the scheme, while urging employers to ensure fair and sustainable wage structures that support pension growth.
Ghana’s pension sector has undergone major reforms over the past six decades, including the introduction of the three-tier pension system, which has transformed SSNIT into a modern, technology-driven social insurance institution.
As AI reshapes industries globally, experts say early adaptation by SSNIT will be critical to ensuring that Ghana’s pension system remains both inclusive and future-ready.
