Young people have been advised to desist from tagging grandparents and the elderly as witches but treat them with dignity and respect.
Very Rev. Fr. (DCOP) George Arthur, Chaplain – General of the Ghana Police Service and Parish Priest of the St. George Catholic Church who made the appeal during the commemoration of the World Grandparents and Elderly Day at the Church said most times due to old age and some ailments, the elderly behave unusually.
This, he said, should not be seen as witchcraft or wizardry but issues associated with old age and dealt with in patience rather than treating them as outcasts.
He stated that old age is gracious and a sign of the mercies of God on a person. He, therefore, emphasised the need for the elderly not to be neglected but taken good care of.
He said the importance of the elderly in the society is highlighted even in the Ghanaian culture where the proverbial ‘old woman’ is consulted on very important issues.
Fr. Arthur advised the youth to draw closer to the elderly to tap from their years of experience, wisdom and pieces of advice as well as their prayers.
Pope Francis established the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to take place annually on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the feast of the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Anne and Joachim.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is: Do Not Cast Me Off In My Old Age.
In his message ahead of the event, the Holy Father urged families around the world to remain close to grandparents and elderly family members, imploring loved ones to spend time with older relatives who may be facing “solitude and abandonment.”
