Gao Laryea narrating his ordeal to the minister designate during her visit
The Minister designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Cynthia Morrison, has gone to the aid of a 94-year-old man, Jacob Gao Laryea, whose pathetic plight was aired on Obonu TV – a subsidiary of GTV – after sacrificing his life for the entire construction of the Akosombo Dam and now living in destitution.
He was a blacksmith recruited as one of the labourers for the installation of the turbines on the dam which started in 1961. Unfortunately, he has partially gone blind and deaf as a result of his dedication to that duty.
The minister designate after seeing the plight of the old man who has sacrificed so much for the nation personally visited him at his Teshie-Tsuiibleeoo one-room apartment in the Ledzokuku Municipality of the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday and donated an undisclosed amount of money for his upkeep.
She also bought a new LED TV, fridge, fan, bed, mattress, beddings, carpet, cooking utensils and beverages. Besides, she has completely furnished his room so that he can enjoy a much comfortable life.
The minister designate who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Agona West in the Central Region was personally helped to remove all the old ‘stuff’ from the old man’s room and completely re-furnished it for him.
“I was touched by the story of the old man that is why I personally decided to come and support him,” she asserted, stressing that it was pathetic to also find out that because of his inability to pay for electricity bills, electricity supply to his room had long been disconnected.
She said even though she was personally giving that support to the old man, she was doing it in the name of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government because the old man was appealing to the government for support.
“I will personally make sure he seeks medication at the Ledzokuku Municipal Hospital free of charge, electricity supply restored to his room, his electricity bills also paid for and a monthly stipend given to him for his comfort at the moment,” she promised.
She also promised to get specialists to attend to his peculiar health problems resulting from his commitment to help provide electricity for the nation.
The minister designate, who would be facing the Appointments Committee of Parliament on October 26 for her vetting, revealed that she personally has soft spot for the aged and the disabled in the society and anytime she sees aged people going through difficulties it touches her heart so much.
“God willing, if I am approved by Parliament, I will make sure that the aged are well catered for since they have sacrificed a lot for the nation”.
Mr. Gao Laryea was so much overwhelmed by the gesture of the minister designate and thanked her profusely for putting a smile on his face and also for all the promises she has also made to him.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr