The Central Presbytery Synod of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana, has established a “Shepherd’s Centre of Ageing” in certain communities in the Hohoe Municipality to address the plight of the elderly.
The Centres are community organisations dedicated to empowering the aged (60 plus) to lead productive and interdependent lives.
Reverend William Rambu Sakoe, Moderator of the Central Presbytery Synod of the E. P. Church, Ghana, the Ghana News Agency that the concept was introduced by Rev Dr S. S. Agidi, Programmes and Inter-Church Relations Executive of the Church.
He said studies had shown that there was a breakdown of the traditional extended family system due to social and economic pressures.
Rev Sakoe said things had changed rather fast with much emphasis being placed on nuclear family lines.
He said ageing is a process and mankind is destined to experience it and thus the aged should not be left to fend for themselves as they have dutifully paid their dues to nation building and service.
Rev Sakoe said experience from other areas have shown that relying on the wisdom of the aged could be useful for our development and nation building.
On the Centres activities, he said they come together once a month, are feted and information on health, dietary and nutritional requirements, social issues are given to them.
Rev Sakoe said the experience is revealing and appealed to other organisations to emulate their example to help the aged in the society.
He said Hohoe-Abansi, Likpe Bala and Bakua, Leklebi Duga, Kame, Agbesia are beneficiary communities in the Municipality.
Rev Sakoe appealed to government to assist the Church to rehabilitate its basic school infrastructure, which he described as being in bad state.
He said even though the Church has not relented in its efforts to renovate its schools, it has been difficult for them to do much.