Stakeholders’ Forum 2025

STRENGTHENING GHANA’S SILVER ECONOMY

 

Highlights from the AGE Stakeholders’ Forum

The Association of Ghana’s Elders (AGE) held its annual Stakeholders’ Forum on July 1, 2025, under the theme “Strengthening Ghana’s Silver Economy: A Collective Commitment to the Well-Being of Senior Citizens.” This significant event brought together policymakers, senior entrepreneurs, and various stakeholders at Christ the King Hall to explore the opportunities and challenges facing Ghana’s ageing population.

The forum aimed to engage stakeholders in supporting Ghana’s silver economy and ageing society, focusing on practical strategies to enhance their lives rather than just advocacy. Participants were invited to join PESHTEEL Roundtables that addressed the eight key thematic areas: Political, Economic, Social, Health, Technology, Education, Environmental, and Legal.

 

Inspiring Insights from Keynote Speaker Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM)

Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM), a celebrated actor and TV personality, captivated the audience with insightful reflections on ageing and intergenerational collaboration. He shared his pleasant surprise with receiving a senior discount, during a recent visit to Silver Bird cinema, a sign of positive shifts in societal views on aging.

KSM recounted a sad memory of his father’s 50th birthday, recalling how he prayed for his father’s longevity. He reflected on his past perceptions of aging at the time, noting that he  thought his father was too old and nearing his grave. In contrast, he celebrated his own 50th birthday publicly with a performance called “KSM @ 50” and recalled climbing Aburi Mountain at sixty, showcasing that age is merely a number. He emphasized that seniors with energy, intelligence, and determination should not retire merely due to age.

He also shared that his long-running show thrives on youthful and seasoned synergy, emphasizing mutual respect and intergenerational collaboration. He is truly dedicated to senior advocacy; to promote seniors’ wellbeing in the country and encourages age-friendly services at his hotel, Cactus Creek. He plans to organize a show specifically for seniors and make it free for them, reinforcing their active societal role.

His message champions a mindset of endless vitality and challenges outdated retirement norms, urging seniors to embrace life’s possibilities and continue to enrich the world around them.

 

 

Mrs. Norah Adei: A Trailblazer in Seniorpreneurship

Mrs. Norah Adei, the innovative force behind Trenor Coats and Gowns Limited, eloquently shared her journey at forum, inspiring many with her vision of transforming retirement into a vibrant entrepreneurial pursuit. Having retired from her role as a senior administrative staff member at the University of Ghana, Mrs. Adei embarked on this venture fueled by insights gained at a retirement workshop. Her company, founded on the principles of staying active and contributing meaningfully post-retirement, initially focused on creating custom academic gowns. Recognizing a broader need, she ingeniously expanded the business to include comprehensive laundry services, embracing challenges with creativity and determination.

To promote Trenor, Mrs. Adei employed traditional marketing like printed fliers and devised diverse customer packages targeting families, the working class, and campus students. Her services cover a wide array of items, including clothes, beddings, shoes, bags, and carpets, illustrating that age is no barrier to impactful economic contribution.

Confronted with a lack of skilled staff in fabric care, Mrs. Adei partnered with the Institute of Applied Sciences Technology at the University of Ghana to launch a certified fabric care course that includes industrial internships. She further innovated by developing the Trenor Laundry Standard Processes, ensuring quality and consistency in her service.

Dedicated to sustainability, Mrs. Adei integrates efficient water management, wastewater treatment, and environmentally friendly machinery into her operations. Recently, she introduced a senior service package, reinforcing her commitment to providing accessible and convenient solutions for the elderly. Through her pioneering spirit, Mrs. Adei exemplifies how seniors can remain influential and productive, turning their vast experience into valuable societal contributions.

 

Engaging Insights from the Seniorpreneurs Panel Discussion

In an inspiring panel discussion hosted by Dr. Esi Ansah, seniorpreneurs shared their remarkable journeys, motivations, and accomplishments. The panel featured Madam Jeanne Donkor, Mrs. Amelia Adjepon-Yamoah, Dr. Isabella Sagoe-Moses, and Mr. Alex Sackey-Addo, each defining their life journey in words like focus, growth, achieving dream goals, and being ever ready to serve.

The panelists championed intergenerational collaboration as crucial to their success, emphasizing that age is merely a number and should not hinder productivity. They encouraged seniors to share experiences, pursue passions, and continually learn to remain relevant in the dynamic entrepreneurial landscape.

Panelist Highlights:

• Alex Sackey-Addo: Transitioning from a World Vision programs officer to an entrepreneur, he launched Paradise Honey, supplying organic honey and nurturing beekeeping skills among women. Through workshops with the Ministry of Agriculture, he promotes organic farming. Despite financial challenges, he emphasizes the need for reliable farmhands and managers to boost productivity.
• Isabella Sagoe-Moses: A retired medical doctor, she founded Aleva Seniors Center to combat loneliness and isolation among seniors, providing care and social activities. The center, named after her mother and mother-in-law, Alice and Eva, sometimes faces challenges in transportation of seniors and engaging less active ones.
• Amelia Adjepon-Yamoah: Retiring as a librarian, she embraced blogging with ‘elminalady.wordpress.com,’ expertly navigating technology and social media. Her compelling posts, like ‘When Women Do Not Choose Husbands Wisely,’ showcase her wealth of knowledge and are very inspiring. She shares her wealth of knowledge through her writings and her most recent post was titled: ‘Childcare, Especially with Regards to Nannies.’
• Madam Jeanne Donkor: A former marketing manager, her culinary passion led to Bioko Treats, specializing in chocolate treats with innovative flavours using local ingredients such as gari, groundnut, cashew, mango, and other. She highlighted challenges in sourcing raw materials like cocoa and cashew, urging support for production and industry growth.

 

 

Key Thematic Circles Discussions & Strategic Solutions

1. POLITICAL

The Political Session focused on enhancing seniors’ quality of life through strategic policy recommendations. Key discussions included financial relief via property rate exemptions, health benefits with medication discounts, and engagement opportunities through skills training. Also, improving local governance which involves better oversight of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and establishing call centers for efficient communication. The well-being of the community was addressed by regulating noise pollution, while economic security focused on increasing pension benefits. Implementing these strategies aims to boost financial security, health access, and community involvement, fostering a more inclusive society for the elderly.

1. ECONOMIC

The Economic Session focused on empowering senior citizens through economic and social integration, highlighting advocacy, digital solutions, and community engagement. Key discussions emphasized harmonizing services offered by the Network of Organizations for the Elderly (NOTE) and encouraging seniors to drive the silver economy through mentorship and skill-sharing. Opportunities in investment and consultancy were identified, with proposals for insurance products and improved public transport for seniors. Advocacy for parliamentary representation, development of user-friendly digital tools, and positive reframing of retirement were key points. Early education on pensions and creating economic products with discounts were encouraged, fostering environments that value seniors’ contributions and enhance their quality of life.

1. SOCIO-CULTURAL

In a vibrant Socio-cultural Session, senior citizens addressed key issues impacting their community, emphasizing the importance of family bonds and intergenerational collaboration. They called for reviving the extended family system through regular in-person visits, advocating for youth to seek the wisdom of elders. Seniors also expressed a desire for organized recreational activities, events featuring music from their era, and a legal framework to protect their rights. Addressing loneliness and advocating for improved pension schemes were highlighted as essential. Participants also suggested special provisions at airports for senior citizens. They encouraged staying active, celebrating fathers equally on Father’s Day, and embracing love at any age.

1. HEALTHCARE

Access to healthcare remains a significant hurdle for Ghana’s elderly population, prompting a call for urgent reforms. The Health Session highlighted the need to integrate the health needs of older adults into policy and community development. Key initiatives included mobile health units, priority access at facilities, and dedicated clinic days to improve healthcare services. There were calls to develop home support systems, enhance transport services, and advocate for geriatric specialists. Stakeholders emphasized expanding NHIS coverage, streamlining care home registration, and addressing service costs. The session stressed the importance of evidence-based research, public education, and advocating for senior rights and benefits to ensure dignity and inclusion for the elderly.

1. TECHNOLOGY

At the forum, the Technology Session highlighted the digital challenges faced by senior citizens. Eager to embrace technology, seniors require more support, simplified designs, and community involvement for confidence and security. While tools like Zoom keep them connected, setup challenges persist. Those with IT backgrounds adapt easily, but many struggle with unfamiliar digital tools and complex health apps. Seniors often lack patient guidance, causing frustration. They mentioned that popular platforms like Facebook pose customization challenges, and concerns about scams underscore the need for fraud protection. Despite these hurdles, there’s a strong preference for simple, user-friendly devices and tailored educational support to enhance their digital experiences.

1. EDUCATION

Education is essential for empowering seniors and improving their well-being. Early pension education, ongoing skills training, intergenerational mentorship, and public campaigns help foster informed decision-making and active community involvement among older adults. It was emphasized that promoting user-friendly digital tools and policy advocacy supports lifelong learning and age-inclusive services, contributing to Ghana’s silver economy and challenging ageing stereotypes.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL

The Environmental Session emphasised improving urban infrastructure and community involvement for senior citizens. Recommendations included enhancing accessibility with better bridges, roads, handrails, ramps, and improved landscaping and waste management. The session also called for more security, rest areas, designated spaces for schools and parks, upgraded public toilets and sanitation, feedback channels, volunteering options for seniors, and stricter enforcement via fines and prosecutions to promote sustainable urban living.

1. LEGAL

The Legal Session highlighted key legal issues affecting seniors, such as pension delays, bribery, and property rate penalties. The engaging and informative session recommended “No payments without receipts” signs, increased legal awareness, digitalizing pension systems, and mandating disability-friendly services. They emphasized the need for targeted legal aid, pro bono support, and senior-specific police services to foster a more inclusive environment for the elderly.

 

Conclusion and Way Forward

The AGE Stakeholders’ Forum on “Strengthening Ghana’s Silver Economy” achieved notable success by convening a diverse array of stakeholders to develop strategies for empowering senior citizens in Ghana. The forum featured substantive discussions and actionable recommendations, underscoring the necessity of adopting a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by older adults. Key outcomes included proposals for policy reforms focused on financial support, health and wellness initiatives, skills development, and enhanced governance frameworks.

By highlighting the potential of the silver economy, participants advocated for intergenerational cooperation and relevant policy advancements. This event was an important step in changing perceptions of older citizens and encouraging their role in national development. It has set the stage for Ghana to foster a society that values, celebrates and supports seniors, ensuring all citizens have purpose and belonging regardless of age. Going forward, the successful implementation of these strategies, reinforcement of partnerships, and sustained advocacy will be essential in fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for Ghana’s elderly population.