A Labour Expert, Austin Gamey, has welcomed the decision by President John Dramani Mahama to suspend the grant of contract appointments to retired public service staff.
He says that per the Constitution of Ghana and the Labour laws, everybody who attains the age of 60 is duty bound to exit the public service.
Read also:
- Drugs on aircraft: Request Bagbin to release Ntim Fordjour for probe – Wa West MP advises security agents
- Yagbonwura appoints Habibu Muftawu as scholarship coordinator for Bii-Kunuto Educational Fund
- You cannot award contracts without approval of Finance Ministry – Ato Forson tells Chief Directors
- It’s a dangerous attack on press freedom – PRINPAG on National Security’s interrogation of journalists
- Gov’t to announce shortlist of partners in bid to revive national airline – Transport Minister
Speaking on the News Central on TV3 Tuesday April 8, he said “It is a very good news , a very laudable policy regardless of who is saying it , it is for the good of the state called Ghana.
“When you have people working for between 25 to 40 years and they have reached 60, according to our constitution, they have to go on retirement from the public service. Even private sector people do the same. We have overly abused that arrangement by hiding behind people with experience, people with age, so that they can remain in the place of work; it is not even extended to everybody. But if there is a policy that says everybody at 60 years should go, then that is a plausible, a wise way of managing the affairs of the state, I support it.”
He added, “I, speaking to you, I will be 76 years old this year, I have left the public sector, I am in the private sector, I have created jobs, and I have employed other people. That is the way other people should endeavour to do. The fingers are all not the same so we may all not be the same as Mr Gamey but I think that the honest submission here is that if you are in the public sector, by constitutional injunction and by the provisions of the labour law if you are 60 years old you are duty bound to be honest and get out of the system whether it is the Police service or the army whether it is broadcasting or any form or shape, you get out and let others come in because our youths are increasingly becoming unemployed.”
In a letter dated 2nd April 2025 and signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, the presidency announced that all post-retirement contract appointments are to be put on hold.
“The grant of post-retirement contract appointments to retired public service staff has been suspended with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Public institutions have been urged to comply with the new policy. “Kindly take note of this directive and ensure strict compliance,” the statement concluded.
The decision is expected to affect several ongoing and pending contract arrangements across public sector institutions.
While the directive did not specify reasons behind the move, it signals a potential policy shift on post-retirement employment within the public service.
