World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed annually to shed light on the widespread mistreatment, neglect, and exploitation of older persons. In commemoration of WEAAD 2026, a team from Modern Thinkers Foundation spearheaded an interactive stakeholder sensitization program broadcast live on Salt FM in Ghana. The primary objective was to bring public attention to the hidden vulnerabilities and various dimensions of abuse experienced by older adults within Ghanaian communities.

During the broadcast, the team highlighted crucial data points to underscore the severity of the issue. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1 in 6 people aged 60 and older experience some form of abuse in community settings annually. Furthermore, studies indicate that up to 80% of elder abuse cases go unreported due to fear, social stigma, or dependence on perpetrators. The sensitization session broke down the specific forms of mistreatment older adults face, drawing both from global frameworks and local realities. They included physical abuse, psychological and emotional abuse, financial and material exploitation, neglect and abandonment, and sexual abuse.

In conclusion, the sensitization program on Salt Fm successfully brought national attention to the quiet crisis of elder abuse in Ghana. The engagement proved that while traditional community-level care systems remain important, they are increasingly threatened by economic pressures, shifting social structures, and widespread ageism. Moving past mere awareness requires shifting structural protections, empowering older persons, and dismantling the culture of silence that allows abuse to remain hidden behind closed doors. To bridge the gap between awareness and practical prevention, the team put forward several key recommendations. Stakeholders, traditional leaders, and policymakers must strengthen community surveillance by establishing community-based elder support committees to monitor the welfare of isolated seniors. They should intensify public education through local radio stations, community information centers, and religious platforms to continuously educate the public on recognising and reporting abuse.