Help Age pursues government to enact
policies for the aged
Accra, Oct. 01, Ghanadot/GNA - Help Age Ghana on Monday
called on Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment,
Cabinet and Parliament to speed up work on policies and laws
that would improve standard of living of the aged.
It also urged government to expedite action on the draft
National Ageing Policy presented to Cabinet in March 2003.
The appeal was made in statement issued in Accra and signed
by the Executive Director of HelpAge, Mr Ebenezer
Adjetey-Sorsey to mark International Day for the Aged, which
falls on Monday October 1.
The theme for this year's celebration is: "Addressing the
Challenges and Opportunities of Ageing in Ghana @ 50.
It said although the aged were still active in both the
informal and formal sectors, they were still confronted with
challenges such as poverty, inadequate social security,
income, right abuse and inadequate health care.
The statement said Ghana was yet to make geriatric care a
part of its health care system, adding that the aged
continued to face negative perceptions and attitudes from
the younger generation.
It said the constitution puts responsibility on government
to ensure that senior citizens lived a comfortable and
secured life and as such it behoved the state to enact laws
to promote their interests.
The Help Age congratulated all older persons in Ghana on the
occasion and said Ghana would not have celebrated its 50th
Anniversary without the immense contribution of the aged.
GNA
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