Centre for Retired Experts Proposes National Engagement Platform as 96% of Ghanaian Pensioners Seek to Work Beyond Age 60

Stakeholders in Ghana are advocating for the establishment of a National Retiree Engagement Platform to bridge the gap between retired professionals and institutions in need of their vast expertise. This proposal follows a landmark study by the Centre for Retired Experts (CREX), which revealed that a staggering 96% of Ghanaian pensioners are eager to continue working beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60. The initiative aims to transform retirement from a period of inactivity into a structured phase of continued contribution to national development, mentorship, and advisory services.

The CREX survey, involving 559 retirees, highlighted a significant disconnect between the willingness of pensioners to serve and the available mechanisms to facilitate such engagement. While 98% of respondents expressed readiness to join a formal platform, 93% admitted they were unaware of any existing systems to coordinate their skills. Dr. Benedicta Quao of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and co-researcher Dr. Adam Salifu emphasized that despite stable well-being reported by 95% of participants, only one in five remains professionally active. Most retirees currently limit their involvement to religious or community activities, leaving a wealth of professional knowledge untapped.

The findings challenge traditional views of retirement, indicating that financial incentives are not the primary motivator for those seeking to return to the workforce. Instead, pensioners are driven by a desire to remain mentally active and contribute to the country's productivity. Preferred areas of involvement include governance, development, and education, with 88% of participants willing to serve specifically as advisers. Many retirees also expressed a willingness to volunteer their time, provided there is basic support for logistical needs such as transportation and meals.

To realize this vision, CREX is calling for robust support from both the government and the private sector to overcome existing resource constraints. The proposed National Retiree Engagement Platform is intended to serve as a matching mechanism, connecting organizations with the specific skill sets of retired experts. Stakeholders have also emphasized that the initiative must extend beyond urban centers like Accra to reach rural communities, where retired professionals can play a transformative role in local development. By formalizing these connections, Ghana can leverage its senior citizens as a strategic human capital resource, ensuring that years of institutional memory and experience are not lost to the nation.