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The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Transport for the provision of discounted transport fares for the aged.

Under the agreement, the aged - from 65 years - are to benefit from a 50 per cent discount on Metro Mass Transit (MMT) transport fares.

With the Eban Elderly Welfare Card, which was introduced last year, the aged can access the MMT bus services irrespective of the destination.

The Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Alexander Ackon, signed for his outfit, while his counterpart, Mrs Joyce Bawah-Mogtari, signed for the Ministry of Transport; the Managing Director of the MMT, Alhassan- Ligbi, initialled for his company.

Objectives

Mr Ackon explained that the objective of the initiative was part of a national exercise to give priority to the aged.

So far, he said, 9,526 elderly persons across the country have received the Eban Elderly Welfare Card.

He said in all, 25,000 elderly persons were expected to be registered nationwide.

According to the minister, his outfit had also concluded negotiations with the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union to offer priority services to the elderly on commercial vehicles. He added that the Ghana Health Service and banks have also agreed to offer privileged services to the aged.

"The ministry is committed to ensuring that our elderly population is well taken care of so that they can enjoy dignity in their old age," he indicated.

Sensitisation important

Mrs Bawah-Mogtari said the programme formed part of the initiatives to uphold the fundamental human rights of the aged and at the same time guarantee their active participation in society.

She directed the management of the MMT to sensitise their drivers and conductors to the programme to ensure its effective implementation.

Appreciation

The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the National Pensioners Association, James Lartey, expressed appreciation to the government for the intervention.

He, however, expressed concern about the negative attitude of health workers towards the elderly and said: "It is very sad how we are treated when we visit the government hospitals."