REGIONAL MINISTER HOLDS LUNCHEON FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN SUNYANI

The Regional Minister Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo on Thursday the 1^st of July which is the Republic day of Ghana held luncheon for senior citizens at the Residency in Sunyani. The programme was part of activities marking the 50^th anniversary celebration of Ghana`s Republic gained from the British on 1st. July 1960.This day has therefore been set aside every year to reward senior citizens of the country who have used their knowledge, strength and time to work to improve the lot of our motherland Ghana in one way or the other.

The luncheon took place in all the regions in the country with the national one being hosted in Accra by His Excellency President Mills. Welcoming the senior citizens to the luncheon, the Regional Minister Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo thanked the senior citizens for their immense contribution to the Brong /Ahafo Region and Ghana as a whole. He used the occasion to appeal to the youth to emulate the good example of the senior citizens by contributing their quota to the development of the Region and their motherland. The Minister was not happy with the way some

People in the region have been castigating those in the leadership of affairs in the region and blow issues out of proportion on radio. He added that at times the way issues are blown out of proportion and decent people are maligned and castigated on the radio if you don’t take care, you will break your protocol and react. He advised for attitudinal change by the people in the region, especially the youth who use the air waves to insult the elderly so that together they can unite to develop the region. After that, inspirational speech by the Minister, the senior citizens led by the Regional Minister, Nananom and some District and Municipal Chief Executives who attended the function queue to collect the food of their preference..

There were so many different kinds of foods and drinks for the senior citizens to choose from so they formed the queues according to their own preference. As they sat to eat ad drink ,they were entertained with music by Asuobisi band from Sunyani Odumase who played them some nice

old timers. Also in attendance was the Agromma Cultural troupe who also played “Kete” for them. The old men and women danced their hearts out. One could easily see from the faces of these aged people that they were actually in high spirits. “I think we the senior citizens are honoured and we thanked the organisers, especially the Regional Minister and his outfit for the honour done us”, were the words of Maame Yaa Badu a former chief farmer of the Brong Ahafo region. Nana Nimpong “We thank the Regional Minister and the Regional Cordinatig Council for recognizing us”.

During optional speeches the senior citizens had a lot of advice for the people of the region, especially the youth. “Our region has gained notoriety in the writing of anonymous letters to the castle for some people in positions in our region to be removed”. “That is not the way to build a decent and prosperous society and we must stop that bad attitude”, were the concerns of Hon. Juana Abebrese, Assembly woman (Appointee) for Tain District. Maame Gladys Esando alias Maame

Donkor was of the view that former President Jerry John Rawlings has done a lot for Ghana and if people will not praise him, they should not castigate him as it has been happening everyday in the media. She added “if I am to tell you what Rawlings did to me during his Revolution, you may not believe it”. “He nearly killed my business here in Sunyani but upon sober reflections later; I saw that there was something good in that young man so I had to follow him”. “We should impart our knowledge and wisdom to our small ones and advise them when they are going wrong, so that tomorrow when we are not there they can take over from us”, was the advise of Nana Nimpong. Attendance was very high as people were selected from different parts of Sunyani. People I spoke to, told me that this year`s ceremony has been successful than any other year

because this year`s one unlike previous ones which had been overtaken by the youth was limited to only the aged. My checks actually revealed that truly people who had gathered

there were only the aged. Young people I found there were either drivers, people from the media or somebody who have been assigned a special duty there but even that the senior citizens had to be served first before the young ones. Security was very tight at the Residency as the police and the military were present to ensure that these aged people had their peace of mind to enjoy their day.