Ghana’s Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) grew its total assets under management (AuM) by 25 percent in a single year, rising from GH¢20.4 billion at end of 2024 to over GH¢25 billion by December 2025, Director-General Kwesi Afreh Biney announced on Monday.
The disclosure came at a joint forum between SSNIT and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) held in Wa, Upper West Region, under the theme “Deepening Pension Literacy across Ghana,” as part of a nationwide worker education campaign.
Afreh Biney attributed much of the growth to a broad-based improvement across the Trust’s portfolio, singling out two hospitality assets for particular attention. Labadi Beach Hotel, which faced privatisation pressure before the TUC intervened, posted profits of over GH¢77 million during the financial year. La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, which had been loss-making for years, recorded an audited profit of GH¢1.7 million in 2025, marking its first return to profitability.
The results carry significance beyond the income figures. SSNIT’s payout ratio now stands at approximately 86 percent, meaning GH¢8.60 of every GH¢10 collected goes directly to pensioners. With such a high disbursement rate, the Trust has been rebalancing its investment mix toward more stable, fixed-income assets to ensure predictable cash flows. The Trust is projected to disburse GH¢8.21 billion in pensions by end of 2026, up from GH¢6.77 billion paid out in 2025.
Despite the shift toward fixed income, SSNIT is preparing one of its largest single capital commitments. Management is planning to invest US$259 million in Cenit Energy, an independent power producer wholly owned by the Trust. As of December 2025, SSNIT held equity positions in 22 of the 39 companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), along with stakes in eight commercial banks and investments in the telecommunications sector.
Active contributor membership currently stands at approximately 2.1 million, with a target of reaching 2.4 million by end of 2026 and 2.8 million by 2027. The Trust’s deputy director-general noted that the informal sector, which accounts for roughly 80 percent of Ghana’s workforce, remains a critical but largely untapped membership base.
TUC Secretary-General Joshua Ansah urged workers in both the formal and informal sectors to enrol, saying pension planning should begin from the day a worker receives their first appointment letter. Additional forums are planned for Bolgatanga and Tamale as the nationwide outreach continues.
