31st DWM deny claims against Mrs Rawlings

Accra, Aug. 21, GNA- The National Executive of the 31st December Women's Movement, on Thursday denied that the President of the organisation was behind the defection of Madam Grace Omaboe, alias Maame Dokonu, an ace actress, from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the New Patriotic Party.

A press statement issued by the Movement, said, Madam Omaboe was engaged by Mrs Konadu Agyeman Rawlings as the hostess and later a producer of the body's children educative programme: "By the Fire side", which was running on Ghana Television.

"Maame Dokonu was added to the story tellers and was paid for every production that she worked on."

The statement said since it was becoming expensive to maintain the programme on TV, the National Executive had a meeting with Madam Omaboe to collect the vehicle and equipment allotted to her.

"After our meetings and discussions .Maame Dokonu drove to the Movement's office in the company of her driver. with the equipment and handed over the keys to the scheduled officer.

"We wish to deny emphatically that neither Mrs. Rawlings. nor her husband, the Former Head of State, ever went to her house with soldiers to collect the bus from her."

The statement said since 2001, President John Agyekum Kufuor had withdrawn all Military personnel posted to the former Head of State's home and was therefore not possible for the couple to send soldiers to Madam Omaboe' residence.

The statement said since the engagement of the actress, she had benefited immensely from the Movement especially the footing of her medical expenses and her upkeep.

The Movement supported her to revamp her drinking spot at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, which was vandalized by a mob that was part of the "Kumepreko March" during Rawlings Administration.

Madam Omaboe was also part of a number of international tours of the Movement including China, at the invitation of the China Women's Federation.

The statement said in 2000, Madam Omaboe approached Mrs Rawlings, to be supported to contest the Parliamentary seat for Birim as a candidate of the NDC.

She was supported because the Movement places premium on women and children and embraces all individuals trying to pursue the same objectives.

The statement said it was therefore untrue for Madam Omaboe to say that the President of the Movement sent "goons to chase her out of the party for the simple reason that she was becoming too vocal and was courting a large women following due to the gender activist role she was playing."

"Joining political Parties is a matter of choice and principle. Maame Dokonu is free as a person under the Constitution of Ghana to hop from one party to another. But she must give virtue its due," the statement said.