Begoro, Dec. 27, GNA - A cross-section of the aged in the Fanteakwa District have commended the Electoral Commission (EC) and the security services for ensuring peace and tranquillity during and after the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

The President of the Begoro Elderly People's Association (BEPA), Rev. (Rtd) Ernest Hammond Tettey-Boadu stated this at a Christmas get-together for members of the association at Begoro on Christmas Day. He congratulated President J. A. Kuffuor on his re-election and commended Prof. John Atta Mills and other opposition presidential aspirants for conceding defeat in a peaceful manner.

He said even though violence was reported at few polling stations, the rejection of the entire election results by the major opposition party, the NDC, would have plunged the country into political violence and this would have affected mostly, the aged, women and children, who are the vulnerable group.

Rev. Tettey-Boadu called on the youth to refrain from engaging in social vices, especially pre-marital and casual sex, likely to expose them to contract the HIV/AIDS disease.

He commended the efforts of Mrs Agnes Ansah-Anim, Principal of the Begoro Presbyterian Vocational Institute, for initiating the idea of mobilizing the aged into a formidable society. The secretary to the association, Mr Kofi Amfo Agyako, said the aim of the association was to cater for the welfare of the members, especially the bedridden.

Mr Agyako said the association, which was for persons of over 70 years and above was formed a year ago and now has a membership of 655, including 235 males and 420 females, while income was generated through a monthly subscription of 1,000 cedis per member.

He said the major problem facing the association was a conference room and appealed to the Fanteakwa District Assembly to release its assembly hall to them for meetings until a proposed conference room estimated at 900 million cedis was constructed.

He appealed to other aged-related NGOs to come to the assistance of the association.

The District Chief Executive of Fanteakwa, Mr Ebenezer Ofoe Caesar urged the aged in the society to put their rich experiences at the disposal of the youth in order to develop the nation.