Oti Boateng Wants Pension Age Reviewed

Dasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben traditional area, has called for a national debate on the country's pensionable age policy. The Omanhene, who was a former government's statistician advocates a review of the 60-year pensionable age, explaining that many Ghanaians are living longer these days. Stating that the nation is losing many people with expertise, because of the 60 year retirement policy, he said the best thing to do "is to review the policy." The Paramount Chief who turned 70 last Tuesday, was speaking at the launch of the National House of Chiefs HIV/AIDS fund project here. He was of the view that most foreign experts that were being sought were over 60 years and wondered why the nation could not continue to use people above 60 years for national development. "There are some pensioners with special skills to contribute to the sustenance of the National Health Insurance Scheme but are at home idle," he said and reiterated the call for a national debate on the pensionable age. The House also expressed grave concern about obscene pictures of women being published by some newspapers. Togbega Gabusu VI, Fiaga of Gbi, who raised the issue, showed to the House, one of such newspapers. He pointed out that the moral fibre of society had deteriorated and sank so low that it behoved chiefs (Nananom) to do something about it stressing, "What are we doing as traditional rulers?" The president of the House, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II, also condemned the publication and said the House would bring the matter to the notice of both the Ghana Journalists Association and the National Media Commission.