HelpAge initiates project for aged

Accra, March 22, GNA- HelpAge Ghana, a non-governmental organisation on Saturday said it has adopted a three-year project to reduce poverty and marginalisation among the aged. A statement signed by Mr. Ebenezer Adjetey -Sorsey, Executive Director of HelpAge, said the project which would end in 2010, would also empower

the aged to monitor and demand improved service delivery at the community level and lobby for their increased participation in decision making. The statement said the initiative was also in line with efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and other international

human rights agreement signed by government to establish social protection policies to provide a minimum standard of living for the vulnerable. "The project will strengthen the voice of civil society organisations to demand the delivery of quality services and influence policy for the benefit of older people and their dependants", the statement said. According to HelpAge, despite the free health care for aged through the National Health Insurance Scheme and the introduction of the Livelihood Empowerment Programme, the aged continued to have limited access to some social protection entitlements and public services. The project was being implemented in 18 communities in Greater Accra, Ashanti and Volta regions. 22 March 08