President John Dramani Mahama has outlined Government initiatives to support the grey hairs in society.
During His recent state of the Nation address to Parliamentarians in Accra, President Mahama disclosed, the Government is implementing programmes to protect the elderly by way of issuing cards for the aged to access buses, hospitals banks and other public places so that, they are are given priority in order of service.
This card he said is called the Eban card. The card which according to Mr. President is accepted in many institutions have so far been distributed to fourteen thousand elderly people in seven regions. The President also revealed that the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection will again issue another nine thousand cards to complete the distribution of the first phase of the project.
Speaking on people with disability, he said, more than 2.6 million of Ghana’s population are disabled which is close to 10%.
“Marginalisation of such a huge segment of our population is not only unquestionable and in practical but it’s unwise,” President Mahama stated.
He added that support has been provided to the Ghana society for the physically disabled under the skills development fund to procure a modern automated chalk moulding plant to enhance chalk production in their factory.
He is of the view that the support will allow the Organization to meet the standards required by Ghana Education service.
According to him he directed the administrator of the District Assembly common fund to increase the disability grant from 2% to 3% which is 50% increase and pleaded with parliament to endorse it when it is submitted for their approval.
Credit: Noah Dameh
