"10% Pension Increase Not Enough" – Retired Workers Demand Living Wage for Ghana's Elderly

Thousands of Ghanaian retirees are crying out that they cannot survive on their current pensions, and the latest 10 percent increase announced by SSNIT is simply not cutting it.

The Concerned SSNIT Pensioners Forum (CSPF) has come out swinging against the Social Security and National Insurance Trust's recently announced pension adjustment for 2026, arguing that while any increase is welcome, the 10 percent average boost falls woefully short of what retirees need to survive Ghana's current economic climate. For many elderly citizens struggling to afford basic medication and meals, the increment feels more like a token gesture than genuine relief.

Back in November 2025, the Forum didn't sit quietly. They took their frustrations directly to SSNIT, submitting a detailed petition on November 19, 2025, calling for urgent action to raise pensions to livable levels. The document didn't just go to SSNIT's doorstep—copies landed on the desks of the Finance Minister, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Pensions Authority.

Their request was specific and bold: raise the minimum monthly pension to GH¢600 and grant an average increase of between 15 and 20 percent for 2026. The Forum argued this adjustment would begin to restore some of the value that pensions have lost over years of inflation and economic turmoil.

To understand the pensioners' anger, consider the numbers. In 2025, the minimum pension stood at GH¢396.58 per month. Try stretching that amount across 30 days while covering food, medication, transportation, and utility bills in today's Ghana. It's a mathematical impossibility that leaves many retirees dependent on family members or charity just to get by.

"Some pensioners on this amount struggle to afford medication and have become dependent on others for basic survival," the Forum noted in their statement, painting a grim picture of Ghana's elderly citizens who spent decades contributing to the nation's development.

The Forum met with SSNIT officials on December 10, 2025, and walked away with assurances that their petition would reach the appropriate authorities for consideration. But when the 2026 announcement came, the disappointment was palpable.

Adding salt to the wound, the CSPF has flagged what they describe as confusing and inconsistent messaging from SSNIT about minimum pension levels.

According to the Forum, a press release on January 6, 2025, stated that the minimum monthly pension would climb from GH¢300 in 2024 to GH¢396.58 in 2025. However, another release dated January 8, 2026, indicated the minimum pension for new retirees would jump from GH¢300 to GH¢400, with some pensioners potentially receiving GH¢409.56 after indexation and redistribution adjustments.

The inconsistency has left pensioners scratching their heads, wondering: what exactly is the minimum pension in Ghana?

The CSPF isn't just complaining—they're proposing solutions. The Forum is pushing for Ghana to adopt a national minimum pension policy, mirroring the concept of the national minimum wage. This would establish a guaranteed floor beneath which no retiree's pension could fall, ensuring all elderly citizens can live with dignity.

"Percentage increases alone are meaningless without a guaranteed minimum living pension," the Forum argued, emphasizing that current adjustments fail to address the real-world challenges pensioners face daily.

The group wants an urgent national dialogue bringing together SSNIT, policymakers, organized labour, pensioner associations, economic planners, and civil society organizations. The goal? Establish a sustainable pension framework with realistic benchmarks that reflect Ghana's cost of living.

The urgency becomes even clearer when you factor in healthcare. As people age, medical expenses naturally increase—doctors' visits become more frequent, medications multiply, and chronic conditions require ongoing management. For pensioners living on bare-minimum payments, a single hospital visit can wipe out their monthly budget.

"Without this fundamental policy shift, the dignity and well-being of Ghana's retirees will remain under threat, especially as healthcare costs continue to rise with age," the CSPF warned.

The Concerned SSNIT Pensioners Forum has made it clear they're not backing down. They've committed to continuing their engagement with SSNIT and other relevant institutions, fighting for what they call "pension justice, equity and policies that safeguard the dignity and wellbeing of pensioners across the country."

Their message to policymakers is simple but powerful: "Pensioners have served Ghana with dedication and deserve to live with dignity, not in destitution."

As Ghana's elderly population continues to grow, the question of how the nation treats its retirees becomes increasingly urgent. Will 2026 bring meaningful reform, or will another generation of workers retire into poverty? The pensioners are watching, waiting, and demanding answers.