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Regional News of Friday, 1 July 2011

Source: GNA

Need to instill spirit of nationalism among the youth 96 Accra Mayor

Accra, July 1, GNA - The Accra Mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije on Thursday called on the elderly in society to help imbibe the spirit of nationalism in the youth to enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

He bemoaned the moral decadence of the youth, who are regarded as future leaders of the country and urged the elderly to engage them in fruitful discourse to enable them to live up to expectation.

Mr Vanderpuije made the call when presenting some items to members of Help Age Ghana in commemoration of Republic Day in Accra.

The items included bags of rice, sugar, cartons of milk and milo, cooking oil and tomato paste.

He said the presentation was government's widow's mite to the elderly for their upkeep.

"Don't stay indoors, interact with the youth and share your experiences and the history of the country. Pass on the values and principles to the youth because your contribution to the country cannot be over-emphasised" he added.

Mr Vanderpuije pledged the assembly's support to them.

Ms Joanna Baddoo, a Board Member of Help Age said the centre served as a place for them to socialise and noted 93our coming together gives us the grace to carry on and become each other's keeper."

She said old age was a must for all and entreated government to support them to make life meaningful to them when the right structures were put in place for the benefit of all and sundry

Mr Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey, Executive Director of Help Age appealed to government to hasten the implementation of the National Ageing Policy and Action Plan approved by Cabinet last October to serve as a coordinating machine to address issues facing the aged.

He explained that the policy would address fundamental issues such as ageing and development challenges, ageing and fundamental human rights, ageing and poverty, ageing and the living environment, ageing and gender as well as old age and health challenges.