Omanghana
A nationwide study conducted by the Centre for Retired Experts has found that 96% of Ghanaian pensioners surveyed are willing to continue working after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
The research, presented during a seminar at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, examined the ability, availability and motivation of retirees to remain economically and socially active.
A total of 559 retirees from across Ghana participated in the study, which also explored the challenges preventing experienced professionals from contributing their knowledge after retirement.
Despite the strong interest in post-retirement work, 93% of respondents said they were unaware of any structured platform connecting retirees with institutions or communities requiring their expertise.
About 98% indicated that they would register on a dedicated platform designed to match retired professionals with suitable employment, advisory, mentoring or volunteer opportunities.
The findings showed that financial gain was not the main reason many respondents wanted to continue working. Most participants said they were motivated by a desire to remain mentally active, preserve their sense of purpose and contribute to Ghana’s development.
Supplementing their income accounted for only 14% of the primary motivations identified by the retirees.
The study further revealed that 90% of respondents were willing to mentor young professionals, while 88% expressed an interest in serving as advisers or members of institutional boards.
About 98% said they were prepared to use their experience to support rural and deprived communities, where access to highly skilled professionals is often limited.
The respondents also demonstrated considerable availability for part-time assignments. According to the study, 84% could dedicate between one and four hours each day to professional or community work.
More than 90% said they could work between one and four days a week. In addition, 98% indicated that they would participate in voluntary assignments if basic support, including meals and transportation, was provided.
The research also examined pensioners’ views about Ghana’s mandatory retirement age. More than half of the respondents supported extending it to 65 years or beyond.
About 86% rejected the suggestion that retirement had reduced their usefulness to society, while 87% continued to regard themselves as important assets capable of contributing to national growth.
The Centre for Retired Experts said the findings demonstrate that Ghana has a large pool of experienced professionals whose knowledge and skills remain underutilized after retirement.
CREX Executive Director Prof. Albert Martins and Research Director Dr. Benedicta Quao said retirees possess decades of institutional knowledge that could benefit public institutions, private companies, civil society organizations and local communities.
They called for the establishment of a national system to register retired experts, identify their areas of specialization and connect them with organizations that need their services.
Such a framework could deploy retirees into mentoring, advisory, board, consultancy and part-time public service roles while taking their health, availability and professional backgrounds into consideration.
CREX also urged the government, private sector and civil society to collaborate in developing policies that would allow retired professionals to transfer their knowledge to younger generations.
The organization maintained that creating structured opportunities for pensioners would help Ghana preserve institutional memory, strengthen professional mentorship and make better use of expertise accumulated over several decades.
Source: Omanghana
