GIWC fetes 100 members of HelpAge Ghana
The Ghana International Women’s Club (GIWC) has feted 100 members of HelpAge Ghana a non-governmental organisation as part of the 2020 International Women’s Day Celebrations which was commemorated on March 8, 2020.
The event also formed part of activities the GIWC is undertaking to mark its 40th anniversary.
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It was characterised by merry-making whiles the members of the HelpAge Ghana were provided with enough food and drinks.
The group also donated toiletries, food items, cosmetics among others to the organisation.
Acknowledge aged
Speaking at the event held in Accra, Mrs Samira Bawumia, wife of the Vice President, said it was necessary to acknowledge the aged in society.
“We are all expected to honour our parents, regardless of our religion, be there for them, listen to them,” she said.
According to Mrs Bawumia, old age should not be a disability but rather a privilege, adding that “let us celebrate the lives of older people in society, let us show them love.”
She urged the public to commit to supporting the elderly in the society by being there for them always.
Isolated
The President of GIWC, Ms Helen List mentioned that the club deemed it necessary to organise the buffet lunch to help people other than the privileged who were isolated and pushed out of their homes in society.
“Today, we thank you and celebrate you, you are our mothers, our grandmothers, our aunties and sisters and we thank you for your contribution and the role that you have played,” she said.
Ms List said elderly people are often marginalised and treated with disrespect in society, stressing that “It is very unfortunate because at this time of their lives they should be treated with the most respect.”
She said the GIWC was content to see the aged filled with joy as they made merry.
Changing narratives
On his part, the Executive Director of HelpAge Ghana, Mr Ebenezer Adjetey–Sorsey, commended the GIWC for both the buffet lunch and the assorted items offered to the aged.
“As older people especially women, we are yet to see a segment of our population at the helms of affairs in this country,” he said.
Mr Adjetey-Sorsey said he was grateful to the GIWC for changing the narratives, and involving the aged in their activities.
“In this country, we still have witch camps and the majority of the witch camps we have in the north are for women,” he added.
He urged the public to take interest in the lives of the aged especially women, and not despise them.
“They are not candidates for abuse, they are not witches, and we are all going to grow old one day,” he said.
He said the country could develop if no one was left behind and further called on the aged to demonstrate the wisdom they possess.
“We are leaving no one behind, the state needs to do its part, we would not get to the election year to hear promises and manifestos from politicians, we are not interested we want action now,” Mr Adjetey-Sorsey said.