Supreme Court nominee, Justice Senyo Dzamefe, has firmly opposed proposals to raise the retirement age for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges from 70 to 75.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, Justice Dzamefe stated clearly that he supports keeping the current retirement age intact.
“I don’t support extending the retirement age to 75,” he stated. “At the moment, judges at the superior courts retire at 70 and continue to receive their salaries.” He emphasized that this system works well and should remain unchanged.
According to Justice Dzamefe, while age and experience were once crucial in shaping judicial wisdom, technology has reshaped how quickly legal expertise can now be acquired.
“In the past, it took decades to gain the level of insight that commands respect in judgments. Today, technology can accelerate that learning,” he noted. “My personal view is that 70 remains appropriate.”
He also stressed the importance of retiring judges while they are still mentally and physically fit. This, he believes, allows them to contribute meaningfully in advisory roles.
“Healthy retirees can serve as assessors and support the judiciary in vital areas like case screening,” he explained.
Justice Dzamefe concluded by reaffirming his position: “Let’s maintain the current retirement age of 70. That’s my opinion.”
