Gov’t Reaffirms Commitment to Dignified Ageing
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a Ghana where everyone can grow older with dignity, security and the opportunity to keep contributing.
This comes as the country joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Older Persons.
A statement issued by the Ministry highlighted that Ghana is undergoing a significant demographic transition.
Citing the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the Ministry noted that the number of people aged 60 and above rose from 213,477 in 1960 to 1,991,736 in 2021, nearly a tenfold increase, and is projected to reach 5.7 million by 2050.
The Ministry said the shift brings real opportunities but also requires the country to strengthen income security, healthcare, care and support services, age-friendly communities and the protection of older persons’ rights.
The Ministry stressed that older persons remain vital contributors to national life through caregiving, farming, business, community leadership, mentoring, and the transfer of knowledge and culture across generations.
Guided by the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148) and the Social Protection Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2521), the Ministry said it is working with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to strengthen Ghana’s response to ageing.
Key priorities under the response include expanding support through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme and making social protection systems more responsive to longer lives and changing family structures; working with the health sector to promote preventive care, early detection and management of non-communicable diseases, mental health, rehabilitation, and geriatric, long-term and home-based care.
The Ministry is also updating the 2010 National Ageing Policy to reflect current realities, with a focus on healthy longevity, rights, care, participation and data, strengthening the National Technical Committee on Ageing (NTCA) to guide a coordinated national response, addressing age discrimination, neglect, abuse and exploitation including through the Orange Support Centre and ensuring older persons have a voice in decisions that affect them, as well as strengthening family, community and formal care while recognising and supporting unpaid family caregivers.
The Ministry noted that preparing for longevity must begin long before old age, adding that investments in education, decent work, healthy lifestyles, accessible healthcare, safe housing and inclusive communities all shape how well people age.
It further called on all Ghanaians to change how they view ageing, stressing that older persons are not merely beneficiaries of programmes but citizens with rights, skills, experience and aspirations.
The Ministry also called for stronger solidarity between generations, noting that today’s young people are tomorrow’s older persons and that building systems for longer lives is an investment in all of us.
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