The Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh-led Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) has proposed that Ghana’s retirement age should be expunged from the Constitution.
Instead, the Committee says it should be made a statute so it can be altered as needed without amending the constitution.
The Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Prof. Prempeh, conducted nationwide consultations, engaging with citizens, civil society groups, and traditional authorities across all ten out of the 16 regions.
It’s mandate was to identify gaps in previous constitutional reforms and recommend amendments to improve governance.
After submitting their report to the President, Prof. Prempeh explained on Hot Issues on TV3 Sunday, December 28, 2025, that public engagement insights suggested this approach fits the nation better than the status quo.
Currently, Ghana’s Constitution states civil service workers retire at 60, except judges who can go up to 70 years.
According to Prof. Prempeh, their engagement with the public, particularly those with disabilities, expressed concern over the need to have their retirement age increased due to the longevity it takes them to go through the education ladder to secure jobs. He noted that taking the retirement age out of the constitution will be the way to go.
“Don’t put retirement age in the constitution. Take it out and do it by statute, so that as and when the data suggests that you need to raise it, you raise it so that you don’t have to amend the constitution to raise the [retirement age] so we said deconstitutionalise it,” he stated.
Prof. Prempeh, who is also the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) explained that doing retirement age by legislation allows institutions to extend their retirement age.
“Do it by legislation and grant some organisations to make theirs longer. For example the universities. Everywhere you go in the world, academics retire very late. Already, for public service generally, our judges are retiring at 65 and 70, so its there. So, why must university lecturers, some of them, still very mentally sharp. At 60, some of them are actually, not hit their prime yet,” he stated.
It is expected that the Committee’s recommendations, if implemented, will strengthen the nation’s democracy.
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