Ireland –based NGO empowers the aged

Help Age international, an Ireland-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), in collaboration with Compassion Africa Aged Foundation, has rolled out a training programme to empower the aged, at Anloga, in Kumasi. The programme, which is in response to an appeal by the Society for Older People, a Civil Society Organization (CSO), at Anloga, would see about 60 selected members being trained on health, socio-economic and legal advocacy issues. Togbe Mawufeame Fugah, Patron of the Society, said the training had been designed in a manner that would help build the capacity of the trainees, to enable them to reach out to their colleagues and identify their needs for redress, as the aged had consistently faced all forms of abuse and discrimination. Addressing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society in Kumasi, at the week end, the Patron noted that, the programme would commence fully this year and called on the participants to take advantage of it and improve their living conditions. He disclosed that, the Irish NGO became more interested in funding the programme following the success of a pilot trainer- of -trainees workshop, organized for some selected members of the society last year. Due to the training, a substantial number of the aged at Anloga were now becoming increasingly aware of their rights to health care, modalities for accessing the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) programme, pension benefits and responsibilities, as older citizens of the nation. He commended the two NGOs for their support and appealed to government to increase its commitment to initiating vibrant pro-aged and poor policies for their well-being. Mr Evans Ablordeppey, Assemblyman for Anloga –West, underscored the need for the construction of a recreational centre at Anloga for the aged. Mr Cletus Yao Fianyo, an executive member of the Society, said the aged by their experience and working knowledge, were strategic partners of the society in development. They should therefore be supported with the necessary incentives to ensure their sustainable progress.