According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, approximately 1.9 million Ghanaians, or 6 per cent of the total population, are aged 60 and above. Yet despite their rising numbers, there are growing concerns about how modern urban life is gradually pushing older citizens to the margins of society.
The issue took centre stage during the World Day for the Elderly and Grandparents celebration held in Accra, where religious and community leaders called for a renewed commitment to honouring and supporting senior citizens. Father Emmanuel Kwasi Boateng is the Chaplain for the University of Ghana Catholic Church.
“Our aged are usually shelved in the background. We feel that they are weak, they slow us down, and they shouldn’t participate in what we do. But they still have a purpose. If they are still alive, then they are still a channel of grace. There’s a lot we can learn from them,” Father Emmanuel Kwasi Boateng, Chaplain of the University of Ghana Catholic Church, stated.
However, the reality in many urban areas tells a different story. Father Joseph Okai Kotei, Rector of St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary, blamed urbanisation and shifting family values for the disconnect, calling for a “cultural awakening” to reestablish intergenerational respect and care.
“Grandparents are supposed to find their hope in those of us who are growing. If tomorrow they are growing, they should go away with the assurance that and in the hope that those of us coming after them will continue society, grow society the way they are living behind and even do better than they have done,” he stated.
This plea is not lost on the younger generation. Abigail, a student at the University of Ghana, stressed the importance of preserving intergenerational bonds.
“We know that in our Gen Z world now, culture is actually diminishing. Culture is actually running away from our lives now. But it’s very important that we keep to our culture as a very beautiful thing. We get to learn a lot about past lives. We get to learn a lot about what our forefathers did for us, and we get to respect them and pay them tribute for what they did for us,” she added.
As Ghana navigates an uncertain future, many believe the way forward might be found in its past in the wisdom, traditions, and values embodied by its elderly.
Advocates are urging policymakers to develop stronger support systems, introduce age-inclusive interventions, and create spaces where older citizens can thrive with dignity.
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