Vice Chancellors Ghana has recommended that the government raise the retirement age for university lecturers from 60 to 70.

The move aims to retain experienced educators and strengthen the country’s higher education system.

At a recent forum, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Sena Kpeglo Freiku, stressed that, in the current global knowledge-based economy, the value of experienced university lecturers increases with age, as their expertise continues to grow.

He pointed out that this proposal aims to address the shortage of faculty members and ensure that high academic standards remain intact across Ghana's universities.

"Universities are key players in the global knowledge economy," Dr. Freiku stated.

"Our suggestion is that, to safeguard the long-term strength of our universities and promote social autonomy, the retirement age for academic staff be raised to at least 65, with the possibility of extending it to 70," he explained.

Dr. Freiku also noted that this adjustment would help mitigate the ongoing issue of brain drain in academia, as many highly skilled lecturers are forced to retire early, despite having the intellectual capacity and desire to continue contributing to the sector.

Currently, university lecturers in Ghana are required to retire at 60, a policy that has been widely criticized for being outdated and counterproductive in a field that depends on institutional memory, mentorship, and intellectual growth.

Dr. Freiku clarified that this recommendation would only apply to academic staff, not administrative or professional personnel, whose retirement considerations may differ.