[ 2021-02-18 ]

Mahama Ayariga wants retirement age extended from 60 to 65
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama
Ayariga, is advocating for the extension of the
compulsory retirement age for public servants and
judicial officers from 60 to 65 years.

Mr. Ayariga announced that he is sponsoring a
private member’s bill to amend the constitution
to achieve this objective.

“Many people start family life late and their
children are mostly still in school when they are
compulsorily retired and family incomes are
negatively affected with dire consequences for the
education of their children. An extended
retirement age will ensure that youth are
guaranteed family income to sponsor their
education,” he explained.

“With improved health care and increased life
expectancy, the current compulsory retirement age
of 60 years hurts the public service and judiciary
and denies them of healthy, competent and
experienced people. And many of them live an
additional twenty years or more and become a
burden on the pension scheme which has to support
them in retirement when they could actually
work,” the legislator added.

Mr. Ayariga made the remark when the
Minister-designate for Employment and Labour
Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, appeared before
Parliament’s Appointments Committee on
Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

Mr. Ayariga asked the Minister-designate whether
he will support an amendment to the constitution
to extend the retirement age.

In response, Baffour Awuah said he supports the
proposal but added that the concerns of young
people looking for jobs must be considered.

The Minister-designate argued that extending the
compulsory retirement age will ensure
sustainability of the national pension scheme.

“A national dialogue on the issue of the
extension of the compulsory retirement age is
encouraged to build a national consensus on the
matter,” he said.

Source - Citinewsroom

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