Senior citizens in Ashaiman praise NDC; yearn for Norgbey and Mahama victory in 2024

The senior citizens in Ashaiman have expressed their gratitude to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), noting that the party truly cares for the aged and elderly.

During a successful stakeholder engagement on Sunday, June 30, 2024, many elderly attendees voiced their wish for the NDC to return to power and advised the party leadership not to forget the grassroots and the MP, Hon. Ernest Norgbey.

Some of the elderly people who attended the event told journalists they want the NDC leadership to support Ashaiman MP because he was a hardworking man whose efforts to improve the constituency are being stifled by the governing NPP.

The event, organized by the NDC’s Gender, Children, and Social Protection Committee in partnership with the MP and local party executives, aimed to celebrate the elderly in Ashaiman ahead of the party’s manifesto launch. In all about 300 elderly people were feted.

The initiative aligns with previous NDC governments’ tradition of recognizing senior citizens every Republic Day, July 1.

Until 2019, Republic Day was both a national holiday and a day to honor senior citizens, celebrating Ghana’s transition to a republic.

However, the Nana Akufo-Addo administration reclassified July 1 as a commemorative day, removing its holiday status and focus on the elderly.

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Chairperson of the NDC’s Gender, Children, and Social Protection Committee, explained the decision to hold the event on June 30 instead of July 1.

She cited the removal of the holiday status, which would require many to work on July 1, as the reason for moving the celebration to the preceding weekend.

“The NDC is a social democratic party and we honor and cherish the aged, especially in a year when they have suffered financial setbacks,” said Nana Oye. “John Dramani Mahama tasked my committee, alongside Hon. Ernest Norgbey, to organize this interaction with the elderly in Ashaiman. We want to hear their issues, challenges, and recommendations on governance.”

Speaking to journalists, MP Ernest Norgbey stressed Ashaiman’s strong NDC support, making it a strategic choice for the stakeholder engagement.

“We want to let the elderly know they are not forgotten. Our manifesto includes stringent policies that will benefit them if John Mahama comes to power,” he stated.

The event featured food, music, and an opportunity for the elderly to voice their suggestions for a potential Mahama administration. Attendees received baskets containing rice, cooking oil, cloths, confectionery, drinks, and other items.

The MP and an entourage from the Gender, Children, and Social Protection Committee also toured parts of Ashaiman to visit veteran NDC members and other senior citizens who could not attend the event, presenting them with gifts and interacting with them.

The senior citizens expressed their gratitude, noting the NDC’s genuine care for the elderly.

They encouraged the party leadership to remember the grassroots and support MP Norgbey in bringing in votes, praising his dedication to the constituency despite political challenges.

The event on Sunday follows similar engagements with persons living with disabilities in Essikado-Ketan and Shama in the Western Region, and Cape Coast in the Central Region.

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