For the 70 per cent of us Ghanaians who are said to be Christians, one can say that the majority of this number will know or have heard of the Scripture in Psalm 90:10 which says, “The length of our days is 70 years or 80 if we have the strength.”

So, standing on this, it is good news to learn that currently, available scientific data for the country is gravitating towards God’s Word, painting the picture of increasing life expectancy. As one has it, the demography points to the fact that the average life expectancy in Ghana is between 64 and 65 years, representing a 1.73 per cent rise from previous years.

Such statistics sometimes make one regret the healthcare and living conditions of yesteryears which because they were not as advanced as today, one sadly lost parents and grandparents too early in their lives. Those were the days when the average life expectancy was around 48 years.

Today, projections are suggesting a significant increase in the average life expectancy, projected to be likely around 76 years by the end of the century.

Depending on one’s faith, this expected 76 years is a bonus, in line with the Word. With improved health systems and health awareness, many more people are not only getting to three score and ten years but are also crossing to their eighties and beyond.

Demography

The demography and projections on ageing no doubt speak to our national pensions. Administrators now and in the future may stay on top of it but continued focus, looking further afield into sustainable returns on the investments of contributors to the pension scheme would remain critical. 

With people increasingly ageing with relatively good access to quality healthcare the question would always be as to whether pensions today and in the future would be able to take care of the future ageing population. That is a big question.

Admittedly, the lifestyles of today and the pressures and stresses of life are pushing many beyond what their physical strength can stand may be a game changer if the younger generation does not pay adequate care to their health. On that highway of life’s pressures, convenience has become the drive of the day, something that does not augur well for one’s health.

Convenience

Convenience and instant foods and drinks have lined up food shelves in our supermarkets and eateries.  Regrettably, when making our selections, one does not always pay attention to the increased levels of unacceptable chemicals and additives harmful to one’s health, especially if consumed in large quantities. 

For the sake of convenience too, some people have turned to undesired energy drinks, aphrodisiacs and supposed health supplements to enhance their performances and look good where they are lacking in strength.

Furthermore, for the sake of convenience and in a world of false appearances, others are living fast-track lives with shortcuts, determined to do whatever it takes to reach heights never imagined no matter what. 

Unfortunately, increasing convenience and instant living are posing risks for one’s system with unfortunate lifestyle diseases and many other infections and bacteria threatening longer life expectancies.

What one knows per statistics from the national demographics, nonetheless suggests otherwise. The elderly population in the 1960s was 4.6 per cent of the total population. Between then and 2010, the senior citizen population is said to have grown by 770 per cent from 215,258 to 1,643,978. 

With the numbers to date not readily available, one could only speculate that the rising population of senior citizens must have multiplied in folds to date. It is good news for families and communities who have the benefit of old age wisdom and sometimes professional insights to tap into.

It is for such reasons that one would campaign vigorously for intentional systems to cater for sustainable welfare policies to support the elderly so they can live beyond life expectancy and for as long as their strength can carry them. 

One is talking here about social welfare systems including appreciable pension payments. Alongside this are national health care incentives for the aged to help them access better health care and perhaps what is even more important yet often ignored is housing-related opportunities for the aged.

In the area of housing, there are some encumbrances which need to be looked at and considerations given for senior citizens who own their own homes. Housing renovations could be costly and to couple that with increasing cost of ground rents and property rates could be burdensome for the senior citizen with diminished income. 

After decades of supporting the Assemblies by consistently paying their property rates and ground rents with no reciprocal development in communities, senior citizens should be relieved of such payments.

An increase in the ageing population could be good news for any community. However, that development would have to go with a proactive system with sustainable and intentional social welfare policies. 

Though not active contributors to any economy, a nation may risk losing a key repository of wisdom, community and family anchors should the ageing population be ignored too early. Let us give back to the aged for a life they once gave to their society.

*****

Contact writer via email at vickywirekoandoh@yahoo.com