Help Age week launched

Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - Mr. Edward Ameyibor, Vice President of Help Age Ghana on Thursday urged Government to speed up work on the national policy on the aged to promote the welfare of older people. He said, when the policy is enacted, it will go a long way to protect the rights of older citizens and boost the image of government abroad.

Mr Ameyibor made the statement at the lunch of Help Age week at James Town to mark United Nations Day for older persons. Mr Ameyibor, former Supervising Chief Editor of The Ghana News Agency said older persons are important to the development process, and that issues which impact negatively on them should be tackled with all seriousness.

He said it was because of the importance the care for the aged that the United Nations set up a day for older persons adding, "older persons continue to play very important roles at different levels in society, even though many of them are not recognized and not rewarded."

"Many older Ghanaians are still experiencing poverty, isolation and abuse coupled with myths and stereotypes, which are often barrier to older persons participation to national development," he said.

Mr. Yaw Barima, Minister of Manpower Development and Employment who was represented by the Deputy Director at the Ministry cautioned that the aged would steadily be eroded by the progress of civilization if young people did not embrace their traditional family ties.

Mr. Reginald Nii-Bi Ayibonte, Member of Parliament for Odododiodo said he would use every power that he has on the Legislative and subsidiary committee to influence the policy on National Aging and any bill that might come before it on the aged.

He said the youth should always try to seek knowledge from the aged whiles they are alive because the aged is endowed with much knowledge and history that would benefit the country.