National Technical Committee On Ageing Inaugurated To Review National Ageing Policy

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has inaugurated a National Technical Committee on Ageing to review Ghana’s National Ageing Policy and ensure that it remains responsive to the evolving needs and concerns of older persons.

The inauguration, which brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, the National Population Council, the Ghana Statistical Service, and the Attorney General’s Department, among others, forms part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s policy framework on ageing.

New members of the Technical Committee were sworn into office following the administration of the Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy by a representative of the Attorney-General’s Department, Mrs Divina Nkwantabisa.

The Committee was also taken through its Terms of Reference, which outline its mandate to review and validate the National Ageing Policy and related legal and technical documents, provide expert policy coherence and facilitate cooperation and partnerships among government, institutions, civil society, academia and other relevant stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Marian W. A. Kpahkpah, acknowledged the need for a comprehensive review of the National Ageing Policy, noting that several developments had taken place since its formulation.

She emphasised that issues relating to ageing cut across multiple sectors and could not be addressed by one Ministry alone. She therefore called for a strong institutional and coordination framework to support the effective implementation of the reviewed policy.

The Chief Director also urged the Committee members to identify and recommend the inclusion of any critical institutions that may have been left out of the current stakeholder composition, stressing the importance of ensuring that all relevant voices were represented in the review process.

The discussion also highlighted the urgency of paying greater attention to ageing in view of Ghana’s changing demographic profile.

The committee was therefore urged to align the review of the National Ageing Policy with international protocols, standards and legal frameworks, while ensuring that the policy responds to Ghana’s national context.

Members also discussed the need to take a critical look at previous consultative processes undertaken in the development of the policy.

The Committee is expected to review the National Ageing Policy, identify gaps in its implementation and make recommendations to strengthen the policy and improve coordination among relevant stakeholders.

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