PHOTO: Many of them are forced to become beggers
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Emotions rained as tears rolled down the eyes of an older woman who was thrown out of her home like many others by their children alleging that they are involved in witchcraft, as she told her story recently during the observance of the United Nations International Day of Older Persons in Liberia.
This year’s observance of the day is the first seen in Liberia since October 1st each year was declared as the United Nations International Day of Older Persons or UNIDOP by the UN General Assembly Resolution 45/106 in 1990.
This day is aimed at hosting programs to appreciate older persons for their invaluable contributions towards families and societal peace, and development but not many are aware in Liberia about the importance of day including officials of government.
In many Countries Older folks are consider a blessing to families and society due to their wisdom, contributions, expertise and experiences they carry but in Liberia it is on the contrary.
Many Older Persons in Liberia are often abused, rejected, abandoned and or considered witchcrafts by their families, communities and society due to their old ages, studies conducted by social workers say. Many cases arise daily where some family members and friends claim that older folks are witchcrafts.
Old age has become a curse for many in Liberia due their rejection, marginalization and public disgrace by many children across Liberia.
As such, growing old has comes a worry of who will take care of them in a country where there is no proper programs from both the public and the private sectors.
But Madam Clarisa Allison has not hidden the trauma she has been experiences as one of the victims of this treatment.
Madam Allison at the recent UN Day of Older Persons
Speaking in an interview on Saturday October 1, 2022 during the observance of International Day of Older Persons in Monrovia’s Paynesville suburb, Madam Allison expressed frustration over being an old person in Liberia, due to what she says is the “disgrace” she has been going through.
“I was thrown out of my house when the virus started in 2019 by my five children on allegations that I am a witchcraft by a prophetess without my children investigating it but they choose to put me out and share my belongings like if someone is dead and family decide to share the things,” the elderly woman explained in tears.
Madam Allison called on government and partners the need to provide support for older persons in the area of food, health care and shelter for their well-being.
Adding insult to injury, this oldma is a diabetes patient, having to nurse a deep sore on her leg, but unfortunately her children believe her medical condition is at a result of her witchcraft activities.
“I have five children and eleven grandchildren all of them are still alive no one is dead, they are still doing good but they choose to listen to prayer woman who tell them that I am a witch, but God is looking. Many thanks to this Woman who help me, I am currently staying with in Paynesville Job Bar waiting for God to call me,” Madam Allison further explained, again breaking down in tears.
Madam Allison who is believed to be in her late 50s urged the public most especially children not to reject or abandon their parents base on what prophetess say about their parents but urged them to go beyond and find out if it is true.
She however, debunked the claim, noting that she and other Older Persons are not witchcrafts, and they are human with expertise and experiences.
Therefore, she pleads that they should not be ill-treated.
This is the case of many older persons across Liberia, some of whom are begging in the streets for handouts on a daily basis. And it is particularly painful to see some at street corners hustling just to survive, especially the physically challenged.
In Liberia, some people including politicians identify with older folks during campaign period and Christmas season with mostly food stuffs.
Government is yet to design a unique program that should protect and promote the well-being of older folks in Liberia.
Old folks, based on their numerous experiences, contributions and expertise are often appreciated in other Countries with proper programs put in place for them.
People who have reached 60 years and about must be provided huge level of protection, and tolerance in all spaces will respect if they must live longer.
Liberia’s 1986 Constitution Article III provides to all citizens’ fundamental rights which includes right to life, security, health, basic social needs. With all of these laws, Aged People in Liberia are being deprived all of those rights and privileges.
Liberia is also a signature to the Maputo Protocol on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, Article 18 section 4 ” The aged and the disabled shall also have rights to special measures of protection in keeping with their physical or moral needs” Article 19 ” All peoples shall be equal; they shall enjoy the same respect and shall have the same rights but this is not observed in Liberia.
By 2050, Africa will have an increase of over 101 million aged people which Liberia is a part of this global statistics according to the World Health Organization (WHO), if there will be such an increase, appropriate mechanisms must be put in place to address the needs of the aged now.