A Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Policy Studies, Dr. Kwadwo Poku has praised the care for the elderly policy by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) which aims to address the living conditions of the elderly in society, stating that the policy will go a long way to improve the livelihoods of the elderly and vulnerable in society who do not have pensions.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) led by flag bearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in its manifesto under the policy “Care for the Elderly” promises to pass an aging act for the care and protection of the elderly, promote geriatric care training programmes to address the growing need for elder care, implement policies on the establishment of home care, nursing homes and rehabilitation services, include assisted living and old age community living, and create elder-specific social assistance schemes to cover those not presently covered under existing programmes such as LEAP as one of its commitments to Ghanaians.
Speaking on Behind the Headlines here on Radio Univers, Dr. Kwadwo Poku explained that the policy would serve as a universal pension for the elderly in society.
“He is going to provide elderly persons with public assistance, social assistance and pension for old people. I mean old people are suffering so if he is able to do this, it will more like a universal pension for those who are not currently on leave and not having any pension.”
“If this kind of policy is actually implemented, it will go a long way to reduce the burden on our poor old people, the people that have carried Ghana for a long period of time. So, if he is able to provide their livelihood, to help them in terms of their livelihood, that would be a massive policy.”
Additionally, Dr. Kwadwo Poku emphasised the importance of investing in persons with disabilities as they contribute to economic growth.
“I also saw that they are going to give them the opportunity especially those that are going to tertiary. We cannot grow and leave some behind because we have specific problems so through social inclusion, you have to include all those people. They can do it so once you provide this, it incentivizes them to do whatever they have to do in order to move forward so this is also very critical.”
“It is also a social policy that we are very interested in at the center. We do not want to leave any of these people in terms of employment and education because when you are able to get higher education, you improve your skills and the ability to get jobs and get them done. So, all these things are important and we expect that all the political parties will have some of these policies in their manifestos so that when they come, we can approach them and make sure that they commit to their social contracts that they are having with us.”
Story: Alexander Kuuku Osei-Baidoo | univers.ug.edu.gh
