THE Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has intensified efforts to improve the welfare of pensioners through the expansion of its telemedicine initiative and the introduction of a special pension card to help ease the cost of living.

Speaking at the 2026 Pensioners’ Engagement in Tamale yesterday, the Director?General of SSNIT, Mr Kwesi Afreh Biney, said the Trust was committed to going beyond the payment of pensions by introducing services that would make life more comfortable for retirees.

He explained that the telemedicine initiative, yet to be fully implemented, would enable pensioners to consult medical professionals remotely via phone, thereby reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.

According to him, the intervention was expected to particularly benefit pensioners who face mobility challenges or live far from healthcare facilities, as it would allow them to access quality healthcare from the comfort of their homes.

Mr Biney said the Trust, which currently pays monthly pensions to over 261,000 beneficiaries, was exploring partnerships with additional clinics across the country to expand access to the service.

“All these initiatives are aimed at making life more comfortable for our pensioners,” he stressed.

He further announced that SSNIT was introducing a special pension card that would allow retirees to enjoy discounts when shopping at selected supermarkets.

The pension card, he noted, would help reduce the financial burden on pensioners by enabling them to purchase essential goods at reduced prices.

Meanwhile, the Trust has also introduced a mandatory annual Pensioner Certificate renewal policy, effective April 2026.

The Tamale SSNIT Area Manager, Mr Seth Kpakpa Quartey, in his welcome address, said the engagement formed part of SSNIT’s broader efforts to enhance service delivery and improve the retirement experience of pensioners across the country.

The Director of Benefits, Mr Frank Mobila, said the policy was intended to ensure uninterrupted pension payments and strengthen the integrity of the pension scheme.

He explained that under the new arrangement, pensioners would be required to renew their certificates once every year during their birth month.

He urged all SSNIT pensioners to renew their certificates to continue enjoying their benefits, noting that the measure was aimed at preventing payments to unqualified persons, particularly in cases where beneficiaries may have passed on.

The Northern Regional Chairman of the National Pensioners Association of Ghana (NPAG), Njaawura Issah B. Yahaya, commended SSNIT for the initiatives.

He described the telemedicine service as a timely intervention that would improve access to healthcare for pensioners.

He also welcomed the introduction of the pension card, noting that the discount system would help retirees better manage their daily expenses.