Government urged to enhance support systems for elderly in Ghana

The founder of the Apuuri Golden Age Foundation, Helen Akanbong Sinabisi, has urged the government to improve systems and care for the elderly in the country.

Helen Akanbong Sinabisi, explained that the country has consistently failed to provide adequate structures and implement policies that allow older individuals to live with dignity.

These policies and structures must address issues such as loneliness, reduced incomes, and declining health among the elderly.

Sinabisi shared these concerns while marking the International Day for Older Persons in the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region.

“I am old and identify more with the elderly and the problems they face. One of the most basic challenges older people encounter is loneliness. As you age, urbanisation leads children to move away, leaving older individuals alone. Additionally, ageing brings health challenges, including joint stiffness, arthritis, and age-related diseases like diabetes and hypertension. As you age, you have less income, especially among the vulnerable,” she said.

The Founder of the Apuuri Golden Age Foundation noted that, while programs like The Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), a cash transfer initiative introduced by the Government of Ghana, have been beneficial to vulnerable individuals, they do not fully address their financial and social challenges.

She went on to propose the establishment of homes that could accommodate older individuals, meet their basic daily needs, and provide opportunities for social interaction. Beyond the benefits for older people, Sinabisi explained that socialising can help young people gain invaluable insights from older people on various issues.

The Apuuri Golden Age Foundation is based in the Buluk area of the Upper East Region and is focused on helping the elderly population live dignified lives.

The organisation organises social engagements to combat loneliness and conducts regular health screening exercises to address the health needs of this demographic. On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106).

This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and later endorsed by the UN General Assembly.

The theme for the 2024 social engagement organised by the Apuuri Golden Foundation is: Ageing with Dignity: The Importance of Strengthening Care and Support Systems for Older Persons Worldwide.

Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region

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