By Ashiadey Dotse
Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Martin Kpebu, has urged skilled retirees who are no longer eligible for contract extensions in public service to consider setting up their own private consultancy firms. He explained that this would allow their expertise to still be utilized while creating space for younger professionals to take over in the public sector.
“Go and set up in the private sector. You can create consultancy firms; the government can still engage your services,” he said.
He made this suggestion in support of President John Mahama’s recent directive to suspend post-retirement contract extensions for public sector workers.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s The Key Points show on April 12, 2025, Lawyer Kpebu acknowledged that while there will be challenges in implementing the policy, they are manageable and necessary.
“Yes, there will be challenges, but we have to manage them. On the whole, I support the President’s decision. The law already says workers should retire at 60, so this policy is simply reinforcing what is in the law,” he said.
Kpebu emphasized the need to make space for younger professionals, especially considering the high rate of youth unemployment in Ghana.
“There are millions of unemployed graduates. If those who have worked for 30 to 35 years continue to stay on, how do the younger ones get opportunities?” he asked.
He added that most retirees do not possess rare skills that justify keeping them in their positions.
“In most cases, these retirees don’t have any unique expertise. There are others who have been working with them for years and can easily take over,” he said, citing the Ghana Immigration Service as an example, where some retirees are lobbying for extensions despite others being qualified to replace them.
Lawyer Kpebu advised that unless a person has very rare skills, they should make way for the next generation.
“If your skills are not unique, and others can do the job, then step aside. Go and set up a private consultancy. Pass on your knowledge from there,” he suggested.
Kpebu concluded by stressing that political influence should not be used to cling to jobs after retirement. “Let’s give young people a chance. This is how we build a stronger, fairer workforce,” he said.
