Frank Annor-Dompreh, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam-Adoagyiri has said that there was the need for a law to be passed to govern the affairs of the aged and pledged to embark on that campaign in parliament, together with his colleagues.
Mr. Annor-Dompreh said that caring for the aged was a huge task and, therefore, a law supporting their care will go a long way to create a better environment for them.
The MP was speaking at the launch of Blue Cross Foundation, a non- governmental organisation, which aims at providing health and basic necessities to the aged who have been neglected by their families.
The foundation, which donates items like rice and toiletries to the aged on a monthly basis, also provides medical care and human rights advocacy.
Mr Annor-Dompreh said the launch of the foundation will create awareness on the need to help the neglected aged, adding “the welfare of the aged is a social responsibility.” He commended the founder, Faustina Gyimah, for her insight and donated GH¢500 to support its operations.
Miss Gyimah said the challenges the aged in the country face daily motivated her to establish the foundation to support them. She said, as a country, there is the need to establish institutions with the legal mandate to help provide the basic necessities of life for the aged.
She said the foundation, established in 2012, started with 15 aged but currently has a population of 70. She, therefore, expressed her gratitude to stakeholders who had contributed to the success of the foundation and appealed to individuals and organisations to help support the worthy course.
Nii Bortey Opklen Djalesane I, Nungua Oblantai Mantse, Dr. Nii Oakley Quaye Kumah, MP for Nungua Krowor and Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, former Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, donated crutches and GH¢ 1000 to the foundation.