PHOTO: Acting D-G of SSNIT Kwesi Afreh Biney smilling at NDC footsoldiers
The Acting Director-General of Ghana’s largest pensions manager, Kwasi Afreh Biney, is already courting controversy, with credible claims emerging of a quiet but determined effort to place political loyalists in key strategic roles—before his appointment has even been formally ratified.
At the heart of the issue is the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), a critical institution for the economic security of millions of Ghanaians. Rather than steering the Trust in line with President John Mahama’s pledge to “reset” the country and restore institutional integrity, Mr Biney is alleged to be promoting figures with close ties to the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—including individuals who openly opposed Mahama’s return to power.
Sources familiar with internal operations allege that several senior appointments made under Biney’s watch have disproportionately favoured individuals known for their affiliations with the previous administration.
Among the names cited are the current General Manager of Operations, the Corporate Affairs Manager, and the Chief Actuary—all of whom are understood to be aligned with the NPP. Their appointments raise critical questions about merit, neutrality, and the wider implications for institutional reform.
Yet, far from addressing concerns over the political slant of his decisions, Afreh Biney is reportedly boasting about his posture, insisting that he is not at SSNIT to do the NDC’s bidding. His remarks have only fuelled accusations that he is actively resisting the new government’s agenda while consolidating NPP’s influence within the institution.
Further scrutiny surrounds Naada Jinapor, wife of former Lands and Natural Resources Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, who currently heads the Trust’s Legal Department. She is widely expected to be appointed as Company Secretary—an influential and enduring role. Critics argue that the process lacks transparency and are questioning whether political proximity outweighs technical qualification and succession planning.
At just over thirty years old, Jinapor’s potential long-term hold on the role is already fuelling concerns about the entrenchment of partisan influence within a non-partisan public institution.
While heads of other public institutions appear to be aligning their priorities with President Mahama’s agenda of national renewal, Mr Biney’s actions at SSNIT have triggered fears of a quiet rollback of that vision—fuelled by appointments that seem more political than reform-driven.
With his substantive appointment still awaiting board confirmation, pressure is mounting for greater transparency and accountability. Civil society groups and policy analysts are now calling on the Presidency and relevant oversight bodies to ensure that SSNIT remains focused on professionalism, neutrality, and service to contributors—not as a patronage hub for political payback.
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