Wa East, Kpone Katamanso Assemblies observe Senior Citizens Day
The Wa East District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Moses Jotie, has said the government is engaging the Social Security and National Insurance Trust and Trade Union Congress to resolve issues of under payment of pensioners.
Addressing senior citizens at Funsi on Monday to mark this year’s Senior Citizens Day, he observed that the government was saddened to have learnt that the formula adopted by SSNIT to calculate the pension benefits of pensioners under the SSNIT scheme was problematic, and understated the pensions that beneficiaries received.
July 1 every year is commemorated as Senior Citizens Day to celebrate and recognise the gallant citizens of the nation who have rendered sacrificial services to the nation while they were in active service.
The event at Funsi brought together about 25 retirees and traditional authorities to share memories and to dine and wine, while some of them were recognised and awarded.
Mr Jotie urged the senior citizens to continue to render their service to the nation, even while they were out of active service, to enable the younger generation tap from their experience which they gathered over the years.
Sharing her experience with The Ghanaian Times at the event, a retired Midwife, Madam Juliana Yakuu Karbo, said her desire to serve even in deprived communities was born out of passion and advised the youth, particularly those in the health sector, to allow passion to guide them in their professional life.
Another retiree, Mr Dalo Rashid, advised the youth to plan appropriately for their future by developing the culture of saving, which would be very beneficial to them during retirement.
In a related development, Godfred Blay Gibba reports that a former Member of the Council of State, Mr Adzei Anang, has urged residents of Kpone-Katamanso to pay their rates regularly to enable the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA) develop the area.
He said the assembly within seven years of its inauguration had achieved a lot but needed to raise more revenue to fund the ambitious projects it envisaged.
Mr Anang was speaking at a programme organised by KKMA on Monday to commemorate July 1, Republic Day.
40 senior citizens in the area were feted at the ceremony, and each of them was presented with six yards piece of cloth in appreciation for their contribution to national development.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for KKMA, Mr Solomon Appiah, paid glowing tribute to senior citizens for their hard work, which had brought the country this far.
He also called on parents to help instil the virtues of peace and love in their children, so that they can coexist with others.
Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Funsi