Vice Chancellors Ghana has called on the government to review and extend the retirement age for university lecturers from 60 to 70 years, citing the need to retain experienced academics and strengthen the country’s higher education system.
Speaking at a forum, the Executive Secretary, Dr Sena Kpeglo Freiku, argued that in today’s global knowledge economy, experienced university lecturers remain invaluable assets whose contribution often matures with age.
According to him, the proposal seeks to address a widening gap in faculty numbers and ensure that academic excellence is maintained across the country’s universities.
“Universities form part of a global knowledge economy,” Dr Freiku said.
“The university professor is more like the older, the better. What we are proposing is that in order to ensure the long-term capacity of universities and also to promote social autonomy, if the committee could consider maybe extending the retirement age for the academics, not the professionals, to 65 years, with a possibility of about 70,” he said.
He further emphasised that such a reform would address the current brain drain in academia, where highly skilled lecturers are forced into early retirement despite their continued intellectual capacity and willingness to contribute.
Currently, university lecturers in Ghana are mandated to retire at 60, a policy that has been widely criticised by academia as outdated and counterproductive in a sector that thrives on institutional memory, mentorship, and intellectual depth.
Dr Freiku clarified that the proposed extension would apply strictly to academic staff, distinguishing them from administrative or professional employees, whose roles may demand different considerations.
About the author
Kumasi Youth Embrace Mahama’s Adwumawura Initiative to Boost Entrepreneurship
With just eight days left for accountability on President John Dramani Mahama’s 120-day social contract with Ghanaians, the government is rolling out a series of key initiatives in what it terms an “all-action week”. Among the most highly anticipated of these programmes is the Adwumawura Initiative, set to be launched by the President in just a few hours. The initiative aims to create over 10,000 jobs annually and has sparked hope among young entrepreneurs in Kumasi, who view it as a potential game-changer. At the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, the atmosphere is charged with excitement as young entrepreneurs and representatives from various groups, including the Central Market Association, the KJTR Traders Association, and the Suame Businessmen Association, gather in anticipation. The event is buzzing with energy as these groups are eager to witness the launch of the Adwumawura Initiative, which […]
FDA Ghana Prioritizes Public Safety Over Profit in Sachet Water Production
The Upper East Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned sachet water producers against production under unhygienic and poor sanitary conditions, which is a threat to public safety. The Acting Regional Head of the FDA, Abel Ndego, who gave the caution, said the Authority has several regulatory and administrative actions ranging from warning letters to closure of facilities, administrative fines and charges, and prosecution. “Ultimately, the onus lies on the FDA to ensure public health and safety, and we will not let you make money at the expense of people’s lives,” he told sachet water producers drawn from across the Region at a sensitisation programme organised by the FDA in Bolgatanga. The programme offered the Authority the opportunity to share ideas on best practices on what was recommended per the provisions of guidelines and international standards […]
Ghana Vice Chancellors Advocate Raising University Lecturers’ Retirement Age from 60 to 70
Vice Chancellors Ghana has called on the government to review and extend the retirement age for university lecturers from 60 to 70 years, citing the need to retain experienced academics and strengthen the country’s higher education system. Speaking at a forum, the Executive Secretary, Dr Sena Kpeglo Freiku, argued that in today’s global knowledge economy, experienced university lecturers remain invaluable assets whose contribution often matures with age. According to him, the proposal seeks to address a widening gap in faculty numbers and ensure that academic excellence is maintained across the country’s universities. “Universities form part of a global knowledge economy,” Dr Freiku said. “The university professor is more like the older, the better. What we are proposing is that in order to ensure the long-term capacity of universities and also to promote social autonomy, if the committee could consider maybe extending […]
Bawumia: Akufo-Addo’s Legacy Will Be Celebrated by Future Generations
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed confidence that posterity will vindicate the achievements of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Speaking during the party’s Thank You Tour, Dr Bawumia praised the former President’s leadership, noting that his numerous contributions to national development would be recognised and appreciated in time. According to Dr Bawumia, Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure as President brought significant transformation across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy. “History will be kind to President Akufo-Addo for the bold decisions he made for the benefit of our country,” he stated. He emphasised that although some of the initiatives might have faced criticism, future generations would look back and applaud the foundations laid under Akufo-Addo’s leadership. Dr Bawumia, who served as Vice President throughout Akufo-Addo’s administration, highlighted key achievements such […]
Trump Administration Authorized Warrantless Home Raids Targeting Venezuelan Gang Suspects, Leaked Memo Reveals
The Trump administration secretly permitted immigration agents to enter homes without a warrant for over a month, according to a leaked internal memo obtained by USA Today. The memo, issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi on March 14, instructed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to break into the residences of suspected members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua without obtaining prior judicial approval. It stated that standard warrant procedures could be bypassed because they might not be “realistic or effective in swiftly identifying and removing alien enemies.” "Given the dynamic nature of enforcement operations, officers in the field are authorized to apprehend aliens upon a reasonable belief that the individual meets all four requirements to be validated as an alien enemy," the document read. It further granted agents permission to enter a suspect’s home without a warrant when […]
Facebook facing lawsuits in Ghana over impact of extreme content on moderators
Lawyers are gearing up for court action against a company contracted by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, after meeting moderators at a facility in Ghana that is understood to employ about 150 people. Moderators working for Majorel in Accra claim they have suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia and substance abuse as a direct consequence of the work they do checking extreme content.The allegedly gruelling conditions endured by workers in Ghana are revealed in a joint investigation by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. It comes after more than 140 Facebook content moderators in Kenya were diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder caused by exposure to graphic social media content.The workers in Kenya were employed by Samasource, an outsourcing company that carries out content moderation for Meta using workers from across Africa. Majorel, the company at the centre […]
Related
Kumasi Youth Embrace Mahama’s Adwumawura Initiative to Boost Entrepreneurship
With just eight days left for accountability on President John Dramani Mahama’s 120-day social contract with Ghanaians, the government is rolling out a series of key initiatives in what it terms an “all-action week”. Among the most highly anticipated of these programmes is the Adwumawura Initiative, set to be launched by the President in just a few hours. The initiative aims to create over 10,000 jobs annually and has sparked hope among young entrepreneurs in Kumasi, who view it as a potential game-changer. At the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, the atmosphere is charged with excitement as young entrepreneurs and representatives from various groups, including the Central Market Association, the KJTR Traders Association, and the Suame Businessmen Association, gather in anticipation. The event is buzzing with energy as these groups are eager to witness the launch of the Adwumawura Initiative, which […]
Bawumia: Akufo-Addo’s Legacy Will Be Celebrated by Future Generations
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Vice President and 2024 flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed confidence that posterity will vindicate the achievements of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Speaking during the party’s Thank You Tour, Dr Bawumia praised the former President’s leadership, noting that his numerous contributions to national development would be recognised and appreciated in time. According to Dr Bawumia, Nana Akufo-Addo’s tenure as President brought significant transformation across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy. “History will be kind to President Akufo-Addo for the bold decisions he made for the benefit of our country,” he stated. He emphasised that although some of the initiatives might have faced criticism, future generations would look back and applaud the foundations laid under Akufo-Addo’s leadership. Dr Bawumia, who served as Vice President throughout Akufo-Addo’s administration, highlighted key achievements such […]
Facebook facing lawsuits in Ghana over impact of extreme content on moderators
Lawyers are gearing up for court action against a company contracted by Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, after meeting moderators at a facility in Ghana that is understood to employ about 150 people. Moderators working for Majorel in Accra claim they have suffered from depression, anxiety, insomnia and substance abuse as a direct consequence of the work they do checking extreme content.The allegedly gruelling conditions endured by workers in Ghana are revealed in a joint investigation by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. It comes after more than 140 Facebook content moderators in Kenya were diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder caused by exposure to graphic social media content.The workers in Kenya were employed by Samasource, an outsourcing company that carries out content moderation for Meta using workers from across Africa. Majorel, the company at the centre […]
Six dead in Adansi Dompoase crash involving VIP bus and sprinter
In a statement issued by the Ashanti Region Public Relations Office, the GNFS said it received a distress call at 12:43 pm and swiftly dispatched a rescue team to the scene. The rescue operation, led by ADOII Samuel Mensah, found a VIP bus (registration GW 8455-23) and a Benz Sprinter (registration GS 6383-20) involved in the collision. According to the GNFS, the Sprinter was completely mangled from the rear, while the VIP bus sustained partial damage to its front. The statement added that rescue operations were completed by 1:28 pm, with six deceased victims handed over to the Police. One injured person was transported to the Fomena Government Hospital for emergency treatment. The cause of the accident, the GNFS noted, remains under investigation.
Bawumia: NDC Had No Campaign Message, Only Used NPP’s Internal Criticisms in 2024 Elections
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, a key figure in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has sharply criticized the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), claiming that their 2024 election campaign lacked any original or coherent message. According to Dr. Bawumia, the NDC merely amplified internal criticisms and comments made by NPP members, using them as their main political weapon. Speaking during a post-election strategic review session with party members, Dr. Bawumia said: "The NDC had no solid campaign message of their own. They simply took what we said against each other and made it their entire election strategy." He emphasized that instead of articulating a clear policy agenda or vision for the country, the NDC relied on highlighting divisions, grievances, and mistakes within the ruling party. This approach, according to Dr. Bawumia, resonated with a public already disillusioned by economic hardship and governance […]
Dr. Bawumia Attributes 2024 Election Defeat to High Cost of Living and Arrogance of Power
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s Vice President and a leading figure in the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has openly acknowledged that the party's defeat in the 2024 general elections was largely due to the high cost of living and a perception of arrogance among those in power. Addressing party members during a recent internal review meeting, Dr. Bawumia referenced multiple post-election reports and independent assessments that pointed to widespread public dissatisfaction with the government's economic management and attitude. According to him, these two critical factors—soaring living expenses and a disconnection from the ordinary citizen—played decisive roles in shaping voter sentiment. "Every single report we have received, both internal and external, points to the fact that the high cost of living weighed heavily on the electorate," Dr. Bawumia said. "Added to that was the perception that we became arrogant in our governance, […]
Be the first to leave a comment