Cross-section of participants at the event
As part of its activities to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the University of Ghana, the Centre for Ageing Studies (CFAS) organised an event themed “Promoting Healthy Ageing in Contemporary Society: Role of the Youth”.
Prof. Mavis Dako-Gyeke, Director of CFAS in a speech, expressed her gratitude to all attendees and urged them to pay keen attention to the presentations, as well as ask questions and make contributions when necessary.
Prof. Mavis Dako-Gyeke, Director of CFAS
The Chairman for the event, Mr. Charles Amo Tobbin also thanked CFAS for organising the programme, recognising that it has created an avenue for the deliberation on how young people could support older persons.
Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities, added that issues of healthy ageing are gradually gaining attention in contemporary society; hence, it was essential that the youth and older people work together towards ensuring healthy ageing.
Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities
On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive of the Adentan Municipality, Mr. Daniel Alexander Nii-Noi Adumuah, indicated his readiness to assist students and faculty from the University to conduct research-related activities on ageing in the Adentan Municipality.
Prof. Mate-Kole, the Founding Director of CFAS, encouraged the youth to involve themselves in issues related to healthy ageing, as well as support older persons, especially their family members.
Some Dignitaries at the Event
Four presentations were delivered during the programme. The first presentation was given by Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayete-Nyampong of the Trinity Theological Seminary, Accra. In his delivery, Rev. Dr. Ayete-Nyampong emphasised that supporting older persons was a crucial Christian value that accrues blessings for young people. He added that the way the youth treat older persons would determine how they would be treated when they also grow old.
The Second presentation was delivered by Dr. Haruna Zagoon-Sayeed (Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana) on Islam and Care for the Elderly. He likewise shared that caring for older persons is engrained in Islamic doctrines and it was a way of showing respect and appreciation to this vulnerable population.
In the third presentation, Dr. Alice Boateng (Department of Social Work, University of Ghana), posited that supporting older persons was a core cultural value in the Ghanaian setting, and was also a crucial way of promoting social connectedness and intergenerational support in society. Therefore, it is important that the youth engage the elderly to ascertain their needs and support them accordingly.
In the final presentation, Mr. Kwamina Abekah-Carter from CFAS shared that it would be useful if the support the University community renders to older persons is guided by the values of the University of Ghana as it is a way of promoting the image and prestige of the University in the larger society.
Some stakeholders of CFAS, including Tobinco Foundation, UNESCO, and Nero Aged Care, among others took turns to deliver solidarity messages.
Following this, a youth club named YOUTH ADVOCATES FOR THE ELDERLY (YAFTE) was launched by Rev. Korkor Hammond of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
Some Youth Advocates for Older Persons
Attendees included students and faculty from various Departments, including the Departments of Social Work, Sociology, Religion, and Psychology, and some older persons. The programme was sponsored by the Department of Economics, University of Ghana and Gully Hill Pond, USA.
