Let the retirees go, and let the younger generation grow!
One of the main causes of Ghana's severe employment problem, which is especially hurting young people, is the fact that many retirees from the public sector were unwilling to retire completely.
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This issue needs to be addressed right away since it is impeding the next generation of leaders. Senior executives sometimes ask for reappointments or contract extensions much past the age of retirement, which keeps younger, competent applicants from securing significant positions and developing their careers.
For Ghana's youth, who already have high unemployment rates, this practice diminishes work options. Due to filled positions in the public sector, many recent graduates are unable to obtain employment, which impedes their ability to advance professionally and contribute to the economic growth of the nation. It is imperative that Ghana's future leaders take up this issue.
The retention of retirees in the workforce might impede innovation and organizational success because older employees may be resistant to change and value tradition, which makes public institutions sluggish to adjust to changing conditions.
Conversely, younger employees bring new insight and a stronger desire for constructive change. Furthermore, prolonging the employment of retirees may deny others their legitimate opportunity, demoralize future public servants, and undermine the meritocracy ideals. Even though some feel that institutional knowledge and years of experience are important assets, retirees can still make significant contributions in advising or consulting roles even in the absence of leadership positions. Mentorship programmes are an effective way to transmit expertise inside a company without preventing the entry of new talent.
This trend of holding onto positions is not only selfish and greedy, but it is also detrimental to the nation's progress and advancement. It is paradoxical that public sector CEOs cling to their positions, denying the next generation of possibilities to advance and contribute to the advancement of the country, while teachers and security personnel retire with ease.
Do they have any honey that they have been sipping on there? To the extent that they find it impossible to relinquish their position to other suitably qualified individuals.
Ghana's culture of retiree retention is hindering the career progression of young Ghanaians, reducing the effectiveness of public institutions, and depriving deserving individuals of meaningful employment. To address this issue, the government should implement strict enforcement of mandatory retirement ages, with limited exceptions. Public sector boards and hiring managers should prioritize younger, qualified candidates over retirees seeking to extend their tenure. Freeing up key positions for the next generation of leaders can unlock Ghana's full potential and build a more dynamic, future-ready public sector. It is time for retirees to step aside gracefully and make way for the younger generation, as the country's economic and social progress depends on it.
The presence of retirees in top positions not only hinders the professional growth of the younger generation but also creates a bottleneck in job opportunities. It is time for Ghana to prioritize the youth and create a more dynamic and productive workforce by encouraging retirees to retire and pass on the baton to the younger generation.
Let’s join the call to action to address Ghana's retirement crisis and pave the way for a brighter future. Let the retirees go, and let the younger generation grow!
Evans Mawunyo Tsikata