Shepherd Centre marks Aged Day in Ho
The Director of the Department of Social Development at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr Christopher Baboorah, has announced that the government is streamlining the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme to rope in more aged beneficiaries in every community across the country.
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“Elderly persons who are 65 years and above and have no responsible persons to cater for them will be enrolled onto the LEAP programme to access payment in all districts and communities throughout the country,” he said.
Mr Baboorah announced this at a grand durbar held in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, to commemorate this year’s World International Day for the Aged.
The event, held on the theme: “Caring for the Aged in the 21st Century — the Role of Stakeholders”, was organised by the Shepherd’s Centre of Ageing, Ghana (SCAG), in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare.
The event brought together traditional rulers, various religious organisations, government officials and stakeholders.
It marked the 10th anniversary of the SCAG.
Mr Baboorah noted that besides the LEAP programme, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection had instituted a policy to address the challenges militating against effective care for and welfare of older persons in the country.
The Executive Director of the SCAG, Rev Dr Seth Agidi, reiterated his apprehension over the delay in the passage of the National Ageing Bill into law.
He urged the government and relevant stakeholder organisations, including faith-based institutions, to demonstrate more commitment to enhance the lives of the aged.
He appealed to traditional rulers and the Department of Social Welfare to release land to SCAG for it to establish recreational centres, healthcare centres and occupational activities for older persons.
The durbar was preceded by a medical screening and treatment as well as a massive procession of older persons through some principal streets of Ho.