Accra, July 1, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday renewed government's commitment to continue to provide free medical treatment to the aged and vulnerable in the society.

He said although the programme initiated years ago had challenges, the Ministry of Health and partners were redesigning and fine-tuning them to make it accessible everywhere in the country.

Vice President Mahama said this when he addressed senior citizens at a luncheon at the Banquet Hall in Accra as part of the 51st Republic Day celebration.

Ghana gained republican status to join a global community of nations under President Dr Kwame Nkrumah in 1960.

As a commemoration, government over the years has provided lunch for selected senior citizens throughout the country to honour them for the legacy they had left for generations.

Vice President Mahama said the three-tier pension scheme which was recently introduced would further cushion pensioners to live better lives.

He called for the re-activation of the extended family system to serve as a unifier for all Ghanaians, irrespective of their ethnic and cultural differences.

Vice President Mahama condemned ethnic, religious and chieftaincy conflicts, which were undermining the peace and stability the country was enjoying.

Mrs Ruth Gyang, a representative of the senior citizens, commended government for the honour they had over the years offered to pensioners and called for the execution of more development projects in the coming years.