Accra, Aug 14, GNA- There is only one geriatric specialist in Ghana and the country is yet to have a national policy on the aged, Mr Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey, Executive Director of Help Age Ghana, said on Saturday. He said the draft policy on the aged has since March 2003 been with Cabinet for consideration.

Due to the absence of a policy, the care for the aged has not been institutionalised and the situation of the aged inmates of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital is bad, Mr Adjetey-Sorsey added.

He made these observation, when Builders Club, an all men's organisation that promotes environmental awareness and care for the needy, presented items valued at 10 million cedis, to Help Age Ghana, in Accra, Help Age Ghana is a non-governmental organisation that promotes the prospects of older persons.

Madam Vida Gyewu and Mr Ishmael Tetteh, members of the Osu zone of Help Age, received the items, which included bags of rice, used clothes, bread, soap and other provisions, on behalf of the 18 Help Age communities in Accra and thanked the Builders Club for their gesture. Members of the Builders Club then interacted and had light refreshment with members of the Osu Zone.

Mr Adjetey-Sorsey acknowledged the contributions of past and the present governments but said the country still did not have an old peoples' home.

Mr Abban Martin, Chairman of Builders Club, said the items were their widow's mite to the aged, stating that their interaction with Help Age was not going to be a nine-day wonder.

He said the Builders Club had identified neglect as the main problem of the aged and would embark on an aggressive educational campaign to sensitise the youth to be responsible towards old people.

The Builders Club would also tap the vast knowledge and experience of the aged to help in the moral upbringing of the youth.

Mr Emmanuel Kwamina Aubin, an Executive Member of the Club, said the Builders Club, was open to all adult male with sound mind, Ghanaian or foreigner that shared the views and aspirations of the Club, which was established four years ago.

He appealed to old people to join organisations such as Help Age to be easily identified for assistance and other collaborative work. Grandma Helena Ayorkor Dapaah made a passionate appeal to parents to restrain their children from watching of pornographic and violent materials, which had gained currency on television in recent times. She said such materials contributed to the moral decadence and appealed to members of the Club, which include pastors, journalists and businessmen among other professionals to use their influence to fight for the regulation of pornography and violence on the screens.