The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, has revealed that government was promulgating an ageing policy for consideration and approval by cabinet. He said this has been necessitated by a rising ageing population that, according to statistics, stands at about 7.2 percent. Mr Mark Woyongo said this when the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) hosted senior citizens from all the nine districts in the Region to a reception at his Residency at Bolgatanga on Thursday to mark the Republic Day. The regional minister, who assured senior citizens that the government was working hard to better their living conditions, said it was in that direction that government had introduced a three-tier pension scheme to enhance pensions for retired workers. He added that steps were being taken to decentralize the processing and payment of pensions at the regional levels to eliminate the hustle and bustle that pensioners go through to access their money. Mr Woyongo said the government had noted with concern the struggle that many pensioners go through and that explains why it was continuing with the free medical care for people who are 70 years and above. He appealed to the senior citizens to contribute to the region's 50th anniversary celebration scheduled to take place this year. Sixty of them received half a piece of piece of cloth each and 30 Ghana cedis. The guests thanked the government for recognizing them and called on the youth to emulate what they had achieved for the development of the country. Source: GNA