I am 67 years old. I grew up in a poor farming family in a small community in the Central Region. Life was difficult, and I learned early that I would have to work hard to improve my circumstances.
After I finished school, I moved to Accra in search of work, staying with a relative and taking on whatever small jobs I could find. I secured my first permanent job as a messenger with a private company, earning a monthly salary of GHS35. At the time, that amount seemed small, but to me, it was a major achievement, proof that I could earn my own money. I saved what I could and sent money home to my parents.
After a few years, I gained enough experience to be promoted to a clerical position, and my salary gradually increased. I married, had four children, and took on more responsibilities. As the years passed, my income grew, but so did my expenses: school fees, rent, utility bills, medical costs, and support for relatives. I eventually built a small house, though it came at the cost of years of loans and sacrifice.
I worked for 30 years before retiring. Today, at 67, I live on my pension of GHS80, which is not enough to maintain the lifestyle I had while working. It covers my basic expenses, but I still must budget carefully, especially as food prices, utility bills, and medical costs keep rising.
I once believed retirement would be peaceful, but I never imagined I'd still be counting every purchase at this stage of my life.
Now I live simply, growing vegetables around my house, avoiding unnecessary spending, and occasionally relying on my children for support, even though they too have families and financial responsibilities of their own. I've learned to make do with what I have, buying only what I need rather than what I want. For me, retirement has taught me an important lesson: earning money matters, but planning matters even more.