SENIOR CITIZEN’S DAY CELEBRATED AT BECHEM

The 57^th edition of the Senior Citizen’s Day celebration has been held at the DCE’s residency at Bechem. The day which  saw past MPs and DCEs of the two major political parties, retired civil servants, opinion leaders, elderly persons and some sectional heads of the Assembly including the DCE for Tano South District, Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi.

 PICTURE above shows a cross section of invited guest and dignitaries at the function.

In a short opening address, the former presiding members of the Assembly, Hon. Anthony Opoku thanked God for given us the strength and energy to celebrate the 57^th Republic Day and humbly informed the older generation to advise the youth to play their expected roles and responsibilities to ensure that peace prevails in the district and also urged all to support the new DCE to ensure the development of the district.

The former presiding member of the Assembly addressing the gathering

A former DCE for the district during the Ex – President John Agyekum Kuffour’s  administration, Hon. Sekyere Bota thanked the DCE for the Tano South District and the Management of the Assembly for the initiative taking to invite  prominent political leaders in the district to the occasion and hinted that since Ghana is declared as an industrialized country, there is the need for all to rally behind the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo – Addo to implement the one district, one factory policy to  improve the livelihood  of many Ghanaians. He used the occasion to inform all present to collaborate and unite to ensure that the district develops and also reduce rural- urban migration.                       

A former DCE for T ano South District and currently the Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the NDC Hon, Opoku Atuahene thanked the DCE  and all present for allowing him to address the gathering. He said that there is the need for the older generation to play their role to ensure that the younger generation becomes law- abiding citizens. He said the democratic nature of Ghana makes Ghanaians go for polls every four (4) years and said since government is a continuous process, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo- Addo will continue projects started by the previous governments to ensure the country is developed and urged all and sundry to support government to deliver its mandates.

Former DCEs and MP speaking at the function

Speaking to the gathering, a former MP for the constituency during Ex- President John Agyekum Kuffour’s administration, Hon Adjei Yeboah said since Ghana is celebrating the 57^th Republic Day, it is imperative for the older generation to teach the younger generation the right thing and also to remember our forefathers who toiled to achieve Ghana’s independence. He informed the senior citizens and other civil society to play their role to support government to implement its policies and programmes and informed them to preach peace in the district and the country as a whole.                    

On behalf of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo – Addo, and the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, the DCE for Tano South District, Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi thanked all gathered for honouring the invitation. He said some years ago Ghana was under a Colonial Rule but due the efforts of some eminent Ghanaians our independence was attained and which later led to the country attaining a Republican Status and urged all to respect each other to ensure peace continue to prevail in the country.

He said since Ghana has limited resources to finance its projects, there is the need for government to secure financial assistance from the International partners to undertake   projects and complete those initiated by previous governments and commended the former DCEs, MPs, Nananom, and DISEC for the efforts put in place to ensure peace still exist in the district.

                        

The Tano South DCE addressing the gathering

Hon. Offinam said, since the development of the district is a shared responsibility, government through the Assembly will do extensive consultation to take decisions concerning the development of the district and appealed to Nananom to also do all it takes to address land disputes pertaining in some part of the district. He said chain saw operational activities deplete our forest and informed all present to educate the younger generation to eschew from deforestation and said that, the government is putting measures in place to ensure the youth acquire jobs.

Hon. Offinam said the outbreak of fire sometimes endangers the life of people and others’ properties and informed all to put an end to the activities which led to fire outbreaks during the dry season and hinted that government through the Assembly is working assiduously to ensure that, all on – going projects are completed before new projects are initiated by the Assembly.

He said the Assembly’s internally generated funds are not being paid as expected by the tax payers and informed all gathered  and various bodies to educate all tax payers to honour their tax obligations so that, the Assembly can get enough money to undertake its core functions to ensure the district is developed.

Nana Awuah- Boadi , the Bechem Nifahene who chaired the occasion advised the parents to send their children to school for them to learn and become  our future leaders and also be law- abiding citizens and said that this occasion also gives an opportunity to the older generation to add their voice to the decision making processes of the Assembly.

                        

Nana Awuah- Boadi who chaired the occasion