Stop regarding old men and women as witches

Apam (C/R), Jan 7, GNA - A priest of Apam Salvation Army Church, Captain Godwin Kumeto, has called on Ghanaians to stop regarding old men and women in the society as wizards and witches. He said people were taking advantage of the weak posture of the elderly to taunt them to accept that they were wizards and witches and that such accusations had sent a lot of the elderly to their graves earlier than expected.

Capt Kumeto said this at a reception the church organized for its elderly members known as "Over 60 Club" at Apam. He said the stigma attached was too much for some of them to bear and appealed to government and human rights activists to save the situation. A member of the church who is now residing in Britain funded the reception.

Capt. Kumeto commended the member, who pleaded anonymity, and said his gesture was in line with the vision of William Booth, the founder of the church, who also formed the "Over 60 Club" to enable him to interact with them from time to time.

He said Rev Booth used the club to reach out to the elderly to encourage them that if society rejected them, God who created them still loved them and was ready to accept them. "Your wife/husband and children may reject you and accuse you as a witch or wizard but don't be despaired, God loves you and cares for you," Capt Kumeto said.

Miss Leah Addison Simpson, Corps Secretary, urged members of the church who were endowed with some resources to help the church to cater for the elderly members.