Gender Ministry entertains aged

Last Friday the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) gave cloths and packs of assorted food items to over 100 elderly persons drawn from various communities in Accra.

They were also treated to a feast and entertainment by the Music Empire Band and the Rock and Roll dancers at a brief ceremony held at the St Mary’s Anglican Church in Accra.

The event was jointly sponsored by the First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama; the Gender Ministry, Nestle Ghana Limited, National Lottery Authority (NLA), SANITA Consumer Products, Special Ice water, Guinness Ghana Brewery Limited, Direct Aid Ghana, Akumaa Mama Zimbe Foundation and Gifty Osei, a gospel musician.

The Minister of  Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, who interacted and danced with the aged, said the objective for organising the event was to make the elderly enjoy the festive season.

She said the elderly had in various ways contributed to the development of the society and it was appropriate that their contribution was recognised during such times. 

Mrs Lithur reiterated government’s commitment to ensure the effective implementation of the National Ageing Policy by improving funding of programmes for the elderly.

“I wish to assure the elderly that the ministry will not forget them in ensuring that their welfare, utmost protection and integration into mainstream society are achieved,” She said.

She added that the ministry recognised the obligation to cater for the elderly and that was why the government had put in place effective measures to serve the purpose.

According to her, the government will ensure that all the elderly in the country are registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme by the end of the year.

“I am confident that as we consolidate and strengthen our social protection systems to provide safety nets that ensure inclusiveness, many more excluded and vulnerable would enjoy better life,” the minister added.