Accra, Oct. 01, GNA - Help Age Ghana on Monday called on Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Cabinet and Parliament to speed up work on policies and laws that would improve standard of living of the aged.

It also urged government to expedite action on the draft National Ageing Policy presented to Cabinet in March 2003. The appeal was made in statement issued in Accra and signed by the Executive Director of HelpAge, Mr Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey to mark International Day for the Aged, which falls on Monday October 1. The theme for this year's celebration is: "Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Ageing in Ghana @ 50. It said although the aged were still active in both the informal and formal sectors, they were still confronted with challenges such as poverty, inadequate social security, income, right abuse and inadequate health care.

The statement said Ghana was yet to make geriatric care a part of its health care system, adding that the aged continued to face negative perceptions and attitudes from the younger generation. It said the constitution puts responsibility on government to ensure that senior citizens lived a comfortable and secured life and as such it behoved the state to enact laws to promote their interests. The Help Age congratulated all older persons in Ghana on the occasion and said Ghana would not have celebrated its 50th Anniversary without the immense contribution of the aged.