National Ageing Policy and Action Plan to be implemented by Government

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA - Cabinet has approved the National Ageing Policy and Action Plan to be captured in the 2011 fiscal year. Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare made this known on Thursday when he addressed the National Executive Council Meeting of the National Pensioners Association (SSNIT) in Accra. He said the policy would serve as a co-ordinating machine to address issues facing the aged, including pensioners.

Mr Mensah said 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.

He said the family, society at large and government owe it an obligation to deal with the increasing social, economic and health challenges faced by people entering into the retirement age and after. Mr Mensah noted that it was important for government to try and smoothen the income of pensioners so as to enable them maintain decent living standard during the years after retirement. He said the aged were also faced with chronic diseases and disability, adding that it was important for health providers to receive training in gerontology and geriatrics to be able to take care or them. He said government was ready to ensure adequate health care for the elderly. "Government believes that the elderly are capable of continuous productive life and it is the responsibility of society not to put to waste the vast pool of resources."

Mr Solomon Tawiah-Yemoson, President of National Pensioners Association, SSNIT said pensioners represented a large pool of experience, knowledge, and tested skills and it was important as individuals and the society at large to harness these potentials. He said most pensioners had suffered deprivation and neglect and it was important to put in appropriate mechanisms, measures and policies to address the issues. Mr Tawiah-Yemoson appealed to government to increase allowances of pensioners in order to enable them meet their pressing needs. 25 Nov. 10