Pensioners appeal to politicians to repudiate violence

The National Pensioners Association has appealed to the political parties and their supporters to talk peace and repudiate violence as they engaged in fierce struggle for power.

Mr Edward Ameyibor, the General Secretary, said they need to cool down the political temperature by doing away with hate speech and war mongering.

He noted that in the event of any upheaval, they the older people, would be among those likely to suffer the most.

“We will not have the energy or resources to flee or protect ourselves.”

Mr. Ameyibor was speaking at the opening of the three-day quadrennial delegates’ meeting of the association at the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) conference hall in Kumasi.

He reminded politicians to also focus on issues of interest and concern to the older persons’ because they were a big political force that could not be ignored.

He called for full implementation of the National Ageing Policy to create social interventions for them, including improved livelihood empowerment against poverty (LEAP) benefits scheme and increased pensions to help them to live in dignity.

“Many pensioners are spending even more in this period of pension on issues like funerals, utility bills and fuel purchases like never before.”

Mr. Ameyibor reminded employers to pay deductions from their employees’ salaries promptly to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and “stop playing tricks with the future of their workers”.

“Let all employers engage in honest business by meeting their obligations under the SSNIT scheme. We urge the SSNIT management not to relent in its efforts to collect every pesewa owed by employers.”

He encouraged his colleague pensioners to regularly renew their life certificates.

Nana Opoku Acheampong, a Communications Specialist at the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, urged them to continue working together to improve their lot.

He said they should educate others to join the association in order to benefit from its programmes.