New Edubiase (Ash), July 3, GNA - Government is putting measures in place to decentralize the payment of pensions to the district levels to reduce the hardships pensioners go through in accessing their pensions.

Mr Francis Cudjoe Dorpenyoh, Adansi South District Chief Executive, who stated this, said in the first step, the government had opened pension office in each of the regional capitals in the country to facilitate the procession and payment of pensions at the regional level. He was speaking at a luncheon organized for senior citizens in the district on Saturday to mark the 46th Republic Day celebration. Mr Dorpenyoh said government was very much concerned with the risk and hardships pensioners had to go through before they could access their pensions and said the decentralization would reduce their burden. He appealed to the youth not to neglect their aged relatives but always keep nearer them to tap their rich experiences and expertise to help them in their daily activities.

Nana Asiama Guahyia Ababio, Chief of Edubiase, who chaired the function, commended the government for instituting the programme to honour senior citizens.

He expressed concern about increasing immorality among the Ghanaian youth and advised them to desist from acts, which could pose serious problems to themselves and the society in general. Some of the aged commended the government for its ability to promote complete freedom of speech and expression in the country. They, however, appealed to the government to reduce the prices of farm inputs to reduce the cost of foodstuff in the country.