Takoradi, Oct. 1, GNA - Mr Edward Ameyibor, National General Secretary of the National Pensioners Association, has underscored the need for Government to adopt a policy on aging that defines clearly who an aged person is.

He noted that civil servants in the country proceed on pension at age 60 but they start benefiting from certain social services at 70, which according to him was unjustified to pensioners. He was addressing members of the pensioners Association at a durbar held in Takoradi on Thursday.

Mr Ameyibor told the pensioners to make use of their expertise by forming consultancy firms so that they could bid for contracts at the various district assemblies counting on their rich experiences from various fields.

Mr Ameyibor indicated that, pensioners are peace-makers and care-givers, therefore, must desist from meddling in chieftaincy litigations that tended to retard development at the various traditional areas in the country.

He took a swipe at some pastors, who brand some old women as witches and subject them to inhuman treatment at the various prayer camps in the country. Mr Ameyibor said older persons were useful to society and therefore needed to be treated with respect and dignity, saying "aging is inevitable stage of life for everybody." He urged older persons in the country to make themselves available to be counted by census officials in the ongoing National Population and Housing Census.

According to him, the Population and Housing Census would afford Government the opportunity to ascertain the demographic statistics on the aged in order to factor them into national planning and policy formulation.

Mrs Janet Esseku, National Women's Organizer of the Association, advised members to take good care of themselves, avoid excessive alcohol intake and eat more fruits and vegetables. She encouraged women to strive for higher offices in the Association by participating fully in its activities. Mr Seth Sesi, Vice President of the Association, advised members above 72 years to fill in their life certificates in the nearest SSNIT office or risk losing their pensions. He urged them to join the National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS) in order to get proper medical care instead of self medication.