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As part of the Ministry of Gender’s plan to cater and make transition into old age bearable for the aged, sector Minister, Nana Oye Lithur last week visited 100-year-old Ms Maud Hammond to wish her a belated birthday.

The visit was to acknowledge her contribution to mother Ghana during her youth through her services.

According to Nana Oye Lithur, the Government of Ghana was committed to promoting the welfare of the aged.

“My ministry has been mandated as government’s machinery in ensuring that all vulnerable persons, excluded, aged and persons with disability are well catered for through social protection interventions,” she added.

As a pointer, a National Advisory Committee was inaugurated to develop a National Ageing Bill. In addition, an Ageing Desk has been established to address issues affecting the elderly.

Nana Oye Lithur noted that 3,650 aged persons above 65 years have been registered on the National Health Insurance Scheme, out of the targeted 10,000.

The Minister for Gender also recounted that early this year, with support from UNFPA, 1,200 specially designed  identity cards, called ‘EBAN Card,’ were issued to the elderly to exempt them from queuing to access social services.

Nana Oye Lithur presented a card, hamper and cake to Ms Hammond and thanked her for her services to the country.

Ms Hammond expressed her profound gratitude to the Government of Ghana for such a plan to cater for the aged.

According to her, promoting the welfare of the aged was a step in the right direction which will enable the aged to share their wealth of experience with the youth to help in the overall development of their lives, which will culminate into a national development.