Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has appealed to pensioners and senior citizens to actively participate in national development.

He said they should share the cumulative experience gathered over the years with Ghanaians to improve governance and development in the country.

He described senior citizens as the rock of the nation following various contributions they made in line of duty towards national development.

"In fact, our Senior Citizens can be characterised as the rock upon which sustainable development ought to be constructed for the benefit of present and future generations of the Country", he said.

Addressing hundreds of senior citizens gathered at Sekondi over the weekend to celebrate this year's Founders' Day, the Minister said government will continue to count on the senior citizens to share their rich experience with the nation.

"It is also a fact that the value and experiences of the aged cannot be quantified in monetary terms and must therefore not be allowed to go waste", he noted.

According to Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, government continues to recognize the role played by its Senior Citizens and of the fact that a Country which neglects its elderly people stands the risk of not having a data bank of experiences to fall on in times of need.

"Permit me therefore to express my profound gratitude to you for the dedicated and persevering services you rendered to this Country. You are still our valuable human resource. We will continue to tap into your knowledge and experiences as long as your physical strength will permit for the benefit of our region and the Country at large", he emphasized.

He said government through various interventions such as Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, which enrols thousands of aged persons who are 65 years and above for quarterly stipends, and free NHIS cards for those aged 70 years and older continue to improve the welfare of pensioners.

He concluded that "To complement Government efforts, family members should regard the welfare of their aged as an obligation and their responsibility. Family members should not in any way neglect their aged, but should rather ensure adequate leisure times are given them in order to reduce boredom, loneliness and depression".