The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has honoured Madam Zenaibu Saaka Dagomba, Ghana’s oldest female pensioner, as she marked her 100th birthday at her residence at Wa Zongo in the Upper West Region on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
The recognition was in appreciation of her decades of contribution to the national pension scheme and formed part of efforts to strengthen engagement with pensioners and promote participation in social security.
The centenary celebration, held within the community rather than at a commercial venue, was part of SSNIT’s outreach programme aimed at honouring pensioners and connecting directly with communities across the country.
Madam Dagomba, who was born on July 1, 1926, expressed gratitude to SSNIT for the support she had received through her pension benefits, describing the scheme as a major source of financial stability in her old age.
She said the regular support had helped her meet essential needs, including food and household expenses, and underscored the importance of preparing for retirement.
The Deputy Director-General of SSNIT in charge of Operations and Benefits, Mr Adam Sulley, said the celebration reflected the trust’s commitment to valuing pensioners as key stakeholders.
He explained that SSNIT had earlier celebrated the oldest male pensioner in the Central Region and was extending similar recognition to pensioners in other parts of the country.
According to him, holding the event at Madam Dagomba’s residence was a deliberate effort to bring SSNIT closer to communities and demonstrate that the pension scheme served people beyond urban centres.
Mr Sulley noted that the presence of community members, particularly those in the informal sector, provided an opportunity to create awareness about pension planning and encourage more people to enrol on the scheme.
He said SSNIT also used the occasion to promote its self-employed programme, which targets informal sector workers such as traders, farmers and other independent contributors.
Mr Sulley added that the future of pensions depended largely on increased participation from the informal sector, stressing that SSNIT staff were engaging communities regularly to drive enrolment.
He urged households across the country to prioritise pension planning, noting that every working person would eventually require financial support after active employment.
The SSNIT Area Manager for Tamale, Mr Seth Kpakpa Quartey, described Madam Dagomba as a symbol of the value of consistent pension contributions.
He said her life demonstrated that proper retirement planning could provide dignity and security after years of service.
Mr Quartey encouraged workers in the Upper West Region, especially those in the informal sector, to join the pension scheme and avoid relying solely on uncertain sources of income in old age.
As part of efforts to enhance support for pensioners, SSNIT highlighted its collaboration with healthcare providers to expand access to medical services through telehealth initiatives.
Mr Quartey explained that many pensioners identified healthcare as one of their biggest concerns, and the service would enable beneficiaries to consult doctors remotely without travelling long distances to health facilities.
He said the initiative was expected to benefit pensioners across the country, including those in rural communities with access to mobile phones.
The Regional Treasurer of the National Pensioners Association, Mrs Victoria Danoro Dangori, congratulated Madam Dagomba, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience, dignity and a life of commitment.
She noted that the celebration was significant not only for the pensioner but also for members of the association across the region.
FROM NAZIRU ALHASSAN, WA
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