Government has introduced welfare cards for elderly persons to make it possible for them to benefit from special treatment in banks and hospitals.

The EBAN Card has already been issued to about 1,200 persons above the age of 65.

The elderly would also benefit from subsidised transportation fares when they board the Metro Mass Transit bus, as well other benefits.

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur said the launch of the EBAN Card is in adherence to the third pillar of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging: “ensuring enabling and supportive environments for the aged.”

She said with the support of the ministry of transport and the UNFPA the 1,200 Eban cards were issued on a pilot basis at Chorkor, Bukom, Nima, La, Nungua and Ashaiman, all in Accra.

She called on the aged to participate in the registration process and for banks, hospitals, state offices and departments as well as the public, to recognise the card and make the initiative a success.

The General Secretary of the Government Pensioners Association of Ghana, Mr Edward Ameyibor, made a call on Metro Mass Transit to train their staff to treat the aged with tolerance and respect and to consider procuring disability-friendly buses.

Mr Benjamin Anyagre, Director of Welfare and Projects of the Local Government Staff Association of Ghana expressed the pleasure of the body to be part of the initiative since “service to the elderly, the vulnerable and disabled is an indispensable duty of everybody”.

“We will all grow old and it is our duty to protect those who are old now,” he said.

EBAN which means fence in Akan is the name of an Adinkra symbol which represents love, safety and security.