Allow heads of public institutions to work beyond retirement age – Lecturer

Former Head of the Department of Public Administration and Health Services Management at the UGBS Professor Justice Bawole says it is unfair for persons heading public institutions in the country to be asked to retire at age 60.

He argued that if parliamentarians and some public servants can be allowed to work even when they reach 60 years and above, then same should be replicated in other public institutions.

His comments come on the back of a direction from President Akufo-Addo to some eight CEOs of government institutions who have past the retirement age to proceed on compulsory retirement.

Speaking on 3FM’s Sunrise morning show on Monday, Professor Bawole stated that there is the need for a broader conversation regarding the retiring age of public officials.

“But for me, there is a bigger picture because why will we allow a parliamentarian? If age 60 is about people’s capacity to work…if age 60 is because people are tired, aged and can’t work, then parliamentary work is as tough as any other public service job.

“The presidency itself is the toughest job we have in Ghana. We have a 72 year plus serving as president and we accept that. We accept people who are 70 and above as parliamentarians and ministers and these are tough jobs so why will we discriminate against other public services?” Professor Bawole questioned.

He underscored the need to relook at the whole retirement age discourse to make room to accommodate people who are above the retirement age and are still able to bring their expertise onboard in building the nation.

“If we feel that people’s expertise will be needed even when they are 60 and above, I think it is important that we legislate them so that it can be fairly applied.”

On the issue of why the CEOs asked to retire were appointed regardless of the fact that they were above 60 as at the time of appointment, Professor Bawole said that was as a result of failure on the part of those who inform the president of such things.

“If our institutions worked well, they should have drawn the president’s attention to this.

“The president’s attention should have been drawn. It is important that we do not appoint these people because they are over 60,” he stressed.