The Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, has called for urgent reforms to Ghana’s pension and social protection systems, warning that the country’s rapidly ageing population could place severe pressure on national resources if proactive measures are not taken.
According to her, the population aged 60 years and above, which stood at about 2.05 million in 2020, is projected to rise to between 5.7 million and 6.3 million by 2050, representing a twelvefold increase since 1960, when the elderly population was approximately 200,000.
Making a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Hon. Appiagyei said Ghana’s demographic structure is undergoing a significant transformation that demands immediate national attention.
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She noted that the demographic shift is being driven by rising life expectancy and declining fertility rates. Life expectancy at birth, she said, has increased from 47 years in 1960 to 65.4 years in 2025 and is expected to reach nearly 69 years by 2026.
While describing the increase in life expectancy as a positive indicator of improvements in healthcare and social conditions, the Asokwa legislator cautioned that it would also result in more Ghanaians spending longer periods in retirement, thereby increasing demand for pensions, healthcare services, and social protection programmes.
Hon. Appiagyei painted a troubling picture of the challenges facing many elderly citizens, noting that inadequate and delayed pension payments are forcing some older persons to remain economically active under difficult circumstances.
“I am 70 and still working. My pension does not come regularly,” she quoted as a common concern among elderly Ghanaians.
The Deputy Minority Leader said pension funds are already facing mounting pressure, citing an age dependency ratio of 65.36 per cent in 2024, which translates into about 65 dependents for every 100 working-age persons.
She explained that although the ratio has declined from a peak of 106.6 per cent in 1970, the composition is changing, with the aged dependency ratio projected to reach 22.2 per cent by 2050 as the youth dependency ratio declines.
Hon. Appiagyei further expressed concern over gaps in pension coverage, disclosing that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) currently has about 2.1 million active contributors against an estimated working population of 15 million people.
She pointed out that while the informal sector accounts for more than 80 per cent of Ghana’s workforce, only about 0.85 per cent of informal sector workers are covered by SSNIT.
Without deliberate interventions, she warned, millions of Ghanaians could enter old age without any form of formal pension protection.
The lawmaker also raised concern about the impact of urbanisation and migration on traditional family support systems, explaining that many young people are relocating to urban areas in search of employment, leaving elderly relatives in rural communities with limited support.
To address the emerging challenges, Hon. Appiagyei proposed strengthening SSNIT oversight and payment systems to ensure timely and adequate pension payments.
She acknowledged that SSNIT has not defaulted on pension payments in more than six decades and that processing times have significantly improved, reducing from several weeks to fewer than 10 working days.
She also called for expanded social protection and healthcare services for the elderly, particularly in deprived and rural communities, and urged the government to accelerate pension enrolment within the informal sector.
The Deputy Minority Leader commended SSNIT’s Self-Employed Enrolment Drive (SEED) initiative and the digital platforms established to extend pension coverage to self-employed workers, but stressed the need to scale up these interventions to match the size of the informal economy.
She also called for demographic data to be fully integrated into national planning and budgeting processes, arguing that investment in aged care, healthcare, and social protection should be treated as essential components of development planning.
Hon. Appiagyei advocated increased investment in youth employment and productivity, saying the current youthful population must become a strong economic base capable of sustaining future pension obligations.
She cautioned that ageing is no longer a distant challenge but a present reality that requires sound planning, effective governance, and sustained investment in human capital.
She urged Parliament to support policies that protect the dignity, welfare, and security of Ghanaian retirees and the ageing population, stressing that social spending should be viewed as an investment in the country’s future rather than a cost.