The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has inaugurated a National Technical Committee on Ageing to review Ghana’s National Ageing Policy, ensuring that it remains responsive to the evolving needs and concerns of older persons.
The inauguration ceremony brought together representatives from key institutions including the Ministry of Health, the National Population Council, the Ghana Statistical Service, and the Attorney General’s Department. New members of the Committee were sworn into office after taking the Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy, administered by Mrs. Divina Nkwantabisa of the Attorney-General’s Department.
The Committee’s Terms of Reference mandate it to review and validate the National Ageing Policy and related legal and technical documents, provide expert policy coherence, and facilitate cooperation among government, civil society, academia, and other stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr. Marian W. A. Kpahkpah, underscored the importance of a comprehensive review. She noted that ageing issues cut across multiple sectors and require a strong institutional and coordination framework for effective implementation.
Dr. Kpahkpah urged members to identify and recommend additional institutions that may have been excluded from the current stakeholder composition, stressing the need for inclusivity in the review process. She further highlighted Ghana’s changing demographic profile, calling for alignment of the revised policy with international ageing protocols and standards while tailoring it to Ghana’s national context.
Members also emphasized the importance of revisiting previous consultative processes to ensure lessons learned inform the current review. The Committee is expected to identify gaps in implementation and make recommendations to strengthen the policy framework, improve coordination, and enhance support systems for older persons.
This initiative reflects growing recognition of the urgency to address ageing as a national priority, with projections showing Ghana’s elderly population set to rise significantly in the coming decades.
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