Mr. Albert Boakye Okyere, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, has held an engagement session with members of the Ashaiman SSNIT Pensioners and the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG) in Ashaiman.
The purpose of the interaction was to fulfil Mr. Okyere's vision of meeting the elderly population within the Ashaiman Municipality and to align the Assembly's programs with their needs and aspirations.
During the engagement, Mr. Okyere emphasized that the veterans and pensioners possess valuable experiences and in-depth knowledge that can contribute to the rapid development of the various communities in Ashaiman.
He assured the participants that the Assembly would soon establish advisory committees within the Electoral areas, with some members from the veterans and SSNIT Pensioners being co-opted to ensure effective performance.
“As leaders, we needed to be guided by your expertise and rich experiences,” Mr. Okyere expressed to the participants. He reiterated the commitment of the Municipal Assembly to assist the elderly, including pensioners, in overcoming their challenges.
Mr. Emmanuel Harrison Ahiabu, Chairman of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Pensioners Association Ashaiman District, expressed gratitude to the MCE and the staff of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly for engaging with them.
However, he raised concerns about the welfare issues faced by pensioners and called on the government to urgently intervene on their behalf.
Mr. Ahiabu suggested that the government, through the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), consider providing waivers or exemptions from rates and levies, including property rates, for pensioners.
He also emphasized the importance of including the voices and opinions of pensioners in policy initiatives to enable them to contribute to the development of their communities.
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