The Chairman of the Veterans Association of Ghana (VAG) in the Upper West Region, Warrant Officer Class One (WOI Rtd) Dozie Kwesi Gyilley, has appealed to the government to support veterans financially to enable them cater for their health needs.
He said although they received their pension allowances every month, it was not enough to cater for all their living expenses.
He said their numerous appeals for financial assistance over the years had gone unattended to, making the association unattractive to members.
“We don’t have any support for medical bills, we manage our allowances to cater for all these needs, which is not enough and we need the government to support in adding something to our allowances,” he said
The chairman made the appeal on the sidelines of an event at Wa to mark this year’s remembrance day celebration to honour military men who died in line of duties.
He said the economic crisis affecting the country had had a negative toll on veterans, especially those whose income was nothing to write home about.
WOI Gyilley said the veterans made great sacrifices for the country when they were young and it was therefore necessary for the government to show them love and kindness in their old age.
He advised all veterans to practise healthy habits so that they could live longer to enable the younger service personnel benefit from their rich knowledge and experience.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, laid the first wreath on behalf of the President and people of Ghana.
WOI Gyilley laid one on behalf of VAG and the secretary to the Wa Naa, Jimpenhi Naa Kadri Ibrahim, also laid one on behalf of the chiefs and people of the region
At exactly 11:00 am, the siren was sounded by the harbour master which was followed by the reading of the Biyon verse and a call to salute by all officers, after which two minutes of silence was observed for departed veterans.
FROM RAFIA ABDUL RAZAK, WA
