Why are these old people refusing to retire ? the answer,pensions if they have one at all are very small and a person just cannot survive on that amount,if no pension,then you are in trouble,you will have to accept that you must rely to have your survival from your children or friends,and the fact is that salaries are so low that even those working have a problem themselves to survive with their families. So if you have a job,you try to keep it at all costs.
No welfare state in Gambia,unlike most decadent western countries.