Older Beggars Swarm K'dua

New Juaben Municipal Area (NJMA), is gradually recording a higher number of destitute elders who go about begging for alms on the streets and lorry parks to earn a living.

Some of these elderly destitutes are either neglected by their families on frivolous charges of being witches or being struck by hard poverty. A survey conducted by the Chronicle indicated that there are over 30 destitutes beging for alms in the central part of the city.

Records at the New Juaben Municipal Assembly (NJMA), also indicated that there are about 200 elderly persons living in the municipality but have not formed an association of the aged though there are facilities that can be used as a meeting place for them.

Chronicle has observed that, the International Day of the Aged (IDA), set aside to highlight problems of the aged, has not been used to create the needed awareness on the elderly stressing on the need to take care of them.

This is because there is no association which has the aim and object of taking care of the elderly people in the area.

Almost all the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Koforidua and towns around are only focusing on the youth and curbing of the spread of HIV/AIDS which has been reported to be more beneficial because of the sponsorship packages attached leaving the elderly to struggle to make a living.

One NGO, based in Koforidua which was expected to take care of the elderly women because they claim to be seeking the empowerment of women, has shifted its aims and objectives from this noble cause to combating of HIV/AIDS.

A few of them, who shared their experiences with the Chronicle appealed to the government, NJMA, and religious institutions and philanthropic organisations to come to their aid since it is not their will to beg for alms but the situation present has forced them to do so.