Government strengthens support for older persons under new social protection framework

The government is strengthening social protection interventions for older persons, with the Social Protection Act providing a legal basis for access to healthcare and social assistance for the elderly.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, said older persons remain an important component of Ghana’s social protection system and must be supported to live with dignity and security.

She said the Ministry had supported 50 elderly residents of the Central Destitute Infirmary at Bekwai, including improvements to the facility and assistance aimed at improving their living conditions.

Dr Lartey said support for older persons would also be linked to existing social protection mechanisms, including the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme.

She said the approach was consistent with the broader objective of the Social Protection Act to guarantee assistance for vulnerable groups and ensure that social protection interventions address the needs of people at different stages of life.

The Minister said government would continue working to ensure that older persons, particularly those without adequate family support, are not left without access to essential healthcare and social assistance.