Ghanaians are living longer. That’s according to NGO HelpAge Ghana, which says, a recent research into the sustainability of the aged shows that despite various challenges confronting the welfare of the elderly in Ghana, many are living longer.

HelpAge Ghana says the Population Census report shows that the life expectancy rate has has risen beyond the levels pegged by policy makers. The old pension policy put the life expectancy limit at 72 years but this seems to have changed as more and more pensioners live beyond this age.

This, according to the NGO, shows that some level of success is being chalked with regards to protecting the aged in society.

The group however bemoans the relatively low resources neglected elderly people depend on.

As the world prepares to mark the international day of the elderly next week, executive secretary of Help Age Ghana, Ebenezer Adjetey Sorsey says more would have to be done to improve upon the welfare of the aged.

He said “we are living longer, irrespective of what we think [are] our headaches. We are living longer and we are not the only people living longer. Globally we are living longer if you look at the population census report.”

He said this is likely to have an effect on the pension scheme in the country and that the appropriate measures must be put in place to ensure that the human resources are used to the maximum benefits.