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Increase LEAP stipends—Advocate of the Aged Welfare pleads
The government has been urged to increase stipends given to beneficiaries of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) especially the aged, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This, in the view of Advocates of the Aged Welfare, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), would go a long way to aid the elderly to meet their daily needs especially during these trying times.
According to the Executive Director of the NGO, Richard Ofori, the support received by the aged had declined because their dependents were grappling with the economic impact of COVID-19, including job losses.
In an interview with the Ghanaian Times yesterday, he said; “The socio-economic effect of the COVID-19 will eventually reduce the number of aged to death if nothing is immediately done to mitigate the impact.”
He was speaking on the backdrop of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day which is being marked today across the world on the theme “The impact of COVID-19 on violence, abuse and neglect of elderly persons.”
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has designated June 15 to focus global attention on the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of elders and seek support to make their lives more comfortable.
The LEAP stipends, introduced in 2008, is given to the extremely poor including aged who are 65 years and above without any form of support, severely disabled without productive capacity and orphaned and vulnerable children.
As of last year, a household of a beneficiary was paid GH¢64 every two months, households of two, three and four beneficiaries were paid GH¢74, 83 and GH¢106, respectively every two months.
This, according Mr Ofori, was not sufficient in the prevailing times.
On abuse, he said the WHO estimated that one out of the six people aged 60 and above suffered abuse, adding that a survey conducted by his NGO in 2009 showed that seven out of 10 aged people in Ghana suffered same fate including neglect.
He said the abuse was still ongoing with many aged tagged as witches and wizards, a situation which, was affecting the elderly people emotionally and thus urged the public to report incidences of aged abuse to the police.
Mr Ofori appealed to the government to dedicate some health facilities as specialist hospitals for the aged because most of them were afraid to go for their routine check-ups due to the fear of contracting the virus.
Source: Ghanaian Times
The Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has defended the conduct of the Minority in Parliament during Tuesday’s chaotic sitting, insisting their actions were to protect what they believe is a violation of parliamentary procedure.
Explaining the incident, he said the Minority was reacting to developments surrounding a letter which allegedly directed that a seat belonging to the MP for Kpandai be declared vacant despite an earlier ruling by the Speaker.
He argued that the Speaker’s ruling should stand unless overturned by a competent court, and described the sudden reversal as shocking and against parliamentary precedent.
Mr Ahmed said the Minority only attempted to make a statement to register their displeasure, but tensions rose when the Majority Leader insisted on responding instead of commenting, which he said was against the rules.
He also denied claims that Minority MPs crossed the aisle, stressing that they remained within their side and only sought the Speaker’s attention.
He further complained that during proceedings, the Mace—the symbol of authority in the House—was not present and Minority microphones were disconnected, making the process one-sided.
He said the caucus intends to continue pushing to ensure that the MP for Kpandai retains his seat, adding that their next steps will be strategic.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President John Mahama has stated that it is too early for anyone to call for the scrapping of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) despite recent controversies surrounding the institution.
He argued that the office remains an important part of Ghana’s fight against corruption.
He explained that government is strengthening anti-corruption bodies such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the OSP, noting that the OSP is the only agency with the power to independently prosecute cases without going through the Attorney General.
President Mahama said many people distrust the Attorney General’s office because it is headed by a government minister, and some fear it may be slow to prosecute its own.
He believes an independent body like the OSP offers stronger accountability, regardless of who is involved.
He admitted that citizens want to see more prosecutions and visible results, but urged the public to give the OSP time.
He encouraged the office to speed up its investigations to show that it remains relevant in the fight against corruption.
By: Jacob Aggrey
