The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is preparing to roll out a new welfare package for pensioners aimed at improving their quality of life beyond the routine payment of monthly pensions.
The initiative, branded the “Loyalty Programme,” will allow pensioners to enjoy discounts at selected hotels, retail outlets and other partner service providers across the country.
Mr Kwesi Afreh Biney, Director-General of SSNIT, announced the plan during an engagement with pensioners in Tamale, describing it as a gesture of appreciation for retirees’ years of service and contribution to national development.
“By simply being a SSNIT pensioner, you receive preferential rates. It is our way of saying thank you as we seek to improve the value proposition of the Scheme,” he said.
Mr Biney explained that although the loyalty programme does not fall strictly within SSNIT’s core mandate, it is intended to complement existing pension benefits and enhance the overall welfare of retirees.
He disclosed that discussions with key stakeholders and potential service providers were at an advanced stage to ensure smooth implementation of the programme nationwide.
According to him, SSNIT has over the years sustained the regular and timely payment of monthly pensions while also supporting healthcare access through initiatives such as the Pensioners Medical Scheme operated in collaboration with the National Pensioners Association.
However, he noted that more innovative interventions were needed to address the evolving needs of retirees, particularly in the areas of healthcare and cost-of-living support.
Beyond the loyalty programme, Mr Biney revealed that SSNIT was also working on introducing telemedicine services to enable pensioners to consult medical professionals remotely via telephone and digital platforms.
He said the telemedicine initiative would significantly improve healthcare access for pensioners, especially those living in rural and hard-to-reach communities where specialist services may not be readily available.
Mr Biney assured both contributors and pensioners that their funds with SSNIT remained secure.
He added that measures were continually being strengthened to safeguard investments and ensure contributors received full benefits upon retirement.
Mr Issah Yahaya, Northern Regional Chairman of the National Pensioners Association, welcomed the new initiatives, describing them as timely measures that would ease the financial burden on retirees.
He said the loyalty programme and telemedicine services would help reduce out-of-pocket expenses, expand healthcare access and improve the overall well-being of pensioners.
Mr Yahaya commended SSNIT for its consistency in paying monthly pensions since the early 1990s and urged the public to continue supporting the Scheme.
He also encouraged young workers to begin contributing early toward securing a dignified retirement and cautioned against misinformation that could undermine public confidence in the national pension fund.
