The life cycle of man is so structured that there is time to work, time to stop, rest and finally time to pass into eternity. These are limitations imposed on human aspirations by destiny. Senior citizens are those Ghanaians who contributed their quotas to the growth and development of this nation in various spheres of public and private sector institutions and retired.
These people once occupied very prominent and key positions as Directors, Directors-General, General Managers, Chief Executive Officers, Chief Directors, politicians, Ministers, captains of industry, security chiefs, etc. during their active careers and retired in accordance with statutory age requirements. Eminent foreigners of expatriates who have contributed significantly in specific areas of the economy, retired and residing in the country may equally be accorded the status of senior citizens.
These people at one time occupied top hierarchy decision-making and leadership of the Public Service and took centre stage in advising, planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation of government policies and in the process shaped government policy direction which pushed forward national development agenda. Judicious disbursement of budgetary allocations to sectors, accountability, enhancement of good corporate governance, institution and promotion of democratic culture and enforcement of the rule of law were cornerstones of their performance and service delivery in the past as well as legacies to succeeding generations.
In addition, they occupied advisory positions during their active career periods for the nation to attain significant landmarks. It was mandatory for them to create the requisite capacity for their succession before retirement to ensure smooth administration management and leadership skills in the organizations. Contemporary public-private sector workforce should not forget that senior citizens were professionals and permanent members of government who were very conversant with the intricacies of the bureaucracy of statecraft and aware of what to do at what place and time of year, thereby sustaining the machinery of state.
In shaping government policy directions, the retired top-level public servants prepared the grounds for politicians to function very effectively to be internationally competitive. In cases of changes of cabinet portfolios, one government completing its mandatory period of governance, inter regnum of general elections, inauguration of a new government the senior citizens played unalloyed roles and kept the wheels of state machinery rolling. Invariably, the success of past ruling governments lay on the shoulders of the senior citizens.
Senior citizens during the era of their active careers ensured a vibrant dynamic and optimum level performance which successfully pushed across government policies, programmes and activities. These are heroes and heroines of yesteryears, who should not pass into oblivion. Hence, any nation which does not recognize and honour its heroes, it’s not worth dying for.
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