Lack of data hampering our work - SSNIT

The Social Security and Insurance Trust (SSNIT), have blamed the lack of accurate, credible and reliable data for the increased challenges surrounding the management schemes among contributors.

According to SSNIT, data is very fundamental in social security administration, and the lack of data is adversely hampering their operations leading some confrontations with some clients.

Speaking to the B&FT, the Director General of the Social Security and Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Mr Ernest Thompson said SSNIT is not all about money, rather about the credible and reliable information provided by contributors which are fundamental for the execution of its business transactions.

“We don’t necessarily want the money, but the contributor must, first of all, provide the scheme with authentic contribution report; then after we will validate the report to ascertain the number of employees to pay according to the contribution report. It is very pathetic when you are willing to pay but the data contributors submitted from the beginning is wrong, and that is why it is sometimes cumbersome to pay contributors benefit.”

“A Chunk of the problem is emanating from the educated elite who provide the scheme with wrong information, and the ultimate way to pay contributors benefit is by providing verifiable information,” he explained.

Mr Thompson added that “If you give us contribution report without money, we will accept it and if you come and pay the money later you will pay the penalty if you go beyond the law, but for the data is the basis of social security and not money.”

He disclosed this, during the official launching of the SSNIT ultra-modern Biometric terminal in Accra, which is in line with the International Organization for Social Security (ISSA) to provide smart electronic services to their clients.

Over 4.5 million folders and 80,000 paid files have all been put on the electronic medium, but SSNIT has about 1.3million active contributors, meaning somebody within the last twelve months has at least paid one contribution.