The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has begun the registration of the aged above 65 years to enable it to provide them with the EBAN Elderly Welfare Card.

The “EBAN Elderly Welfare Card” is meant to give priority to the aged in Hospitals, Bus terminals, Banks and other public places to facilitate their movement and safeguard their rights and freedoms in performing some duties.

The project is being sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

It is also to be used for the patronage of the Metro Mass Bus Service for which the aged in possession of the card would pay half the amount of the approved fare to their destinations.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said caring and empowering aged persons in the society was a loyal duty of the Ministry to promote sustainable national development.

She said her outfit was ensuring an effective implementation of the National Aging Policy, and had also established an Aging Desk to address issues related to the elderly.

Nana Oye Lithur said the Ministry had the obligation to protect the rights of aged persons and persons with disability.

There is a policy, she said, that enabled people who are 70 years and above to be registered under the NHIS free of charge.

“Over one million Ghanaian elderly and vulnerable persons above 70 years are registered free of charge on NHIS,” she stated.

She said the exercise would also be organised throughout Ghana, explaining, “from Greater Accra, the registration will move to Ashanti Region.”

Madam Amoako Juliana, on behalf of the beneficiaries, said the cards would reduce the cost of transportation for the aged.

She thanked the Government and the Gender Ministry for providing them with such an opportunity and called on the beneficiaries to not misuse the opportunity.

The card has a UV Image, Fine line Printing, Guilloche Printing, Water Mark and a Bar Code security features on it.

The registration centers are Bukom, Chorkor, Akoto Lante, Nima, La, Teshie, Nungua, Ashaiman and Madina, all in Accra.