As Ghana moves to phase out post-retirement contracts in the public sector, IMANI Africa has called for a structured transition policy that balances fiscal responsibility with institutional knowledge retention.
The policy think tank warns that abrupt termination of retiree engagements could deprive the system of critical expertise while acknowledging the need to reduce the wage bill.
In its analysis, IMANI recommended implementing part-time consultancy and mentorship programs for essential retirees rather than complete disengagement. This approach would allow experienced professionals to transfer knowledge to younger civil servants through time-bound advisory roles without occupying full-time positions. The proposal aims to create space for generational renewal while preserving decades of institutional memory.
“A blunt policy risks losing vital technical experience during this transition,” IMANI noted. “Our framework proposes measured knowledge transfer through formalized mentorship programs supervised by an oversight committee.”
The think tank emphasized that such a system would align with fiscal consolidation goals by avoiding indefinite contracts while addressing capacity gaps. An evaluation mechanism would assess the program’s effectiveness in maintaining service quality during the transition period.
The debate over retiree contracts has intensified amid concerns about career stagnation for younger professionals and perceptions of patronage networks. IMANI’s middle-ground solution seeks to reconcile these competing priorities by creating structured pathways for intergenerational skills transfer.
This proposal comes as Ghana implements broader public sector reforms to optimize government expenditure. The success of such transitional measures could set precedents for other African nations facing similar challenges in balancing fiscal sustainability with institutional continuity.
The need for systematic knowledge management in public institutions has become increasingly apparent across developing economies. As Ghana navigates this reform, IMANI’s framework highlights how strategic transitional policies can modernize civil services without sacrificing hard-won expertise, a lesson relevant for governments worldwide managing similar generational shifts in their workforce.
