National Pensioners Association Weeps For Late President Mills

The National Pensioners Association of SSNIT on Monday expressed its condolence to the government and people of Ghana on the death of President John Atta Mills. A statement signed by Mr Edward Ameyibor, the General Secretary of the Association and copied to the Ghana News Agency said �President Mills brought a different style of leadership to the country and undertook a number of social interventions that benefited pensioners.� �When we brought to his notice on Senior Citizen�s Day on July 01, 2010 the delay over a National Ageing Policy, President Mills directed the approval of the policy in October 2010, which has been pending since 1999�. It said the policy, which was launched in December 2011, was aimed at promoting the economic well being of older persons and their rights and defined who an older person is in Ghana in order to benefit from some of the social interventions like free medical care. The statement noted that another step late President Mills took to ameliorate the difficulties of pensioners was the inclusion in the new National Health Insurance bill before Parliament provisions for improved health care for older people. �We also know that steps are underway to enhance pensions of all categories of pensioners and we look forward to those who have taken over the baton from him will conclude this package,� the statement said. �His constant reminder to our people to respect the elderly as our traditions demand endeared him to all senior citizens. On behalf of the National Pensioners� Association, I wish to convey our deepest condolences to his widow, Mrs Christiana Naadu Mills, his family and to his successor, President John Dramani Mahama,� the statement said.