Anomabo-Pomase (C/R), Aug. 29 GNA- Former first Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, on Friday said the 31st December women's movement, of which she is president, has not collapsed and was still active in many regions.
Nana Konadu said this when she spoke to newsmen after her installation as 'Mpontuhemaa' of Anomabo-Pomase, near Anomabu, under the stool name Nana Apabah VI, for her contribution to the development of the village.
Nana Konadu, who was resplendently dressed in kente and adorned with other royal regalia, was paraded through the village in a palanquin, and later swore the oath of allegiance to the chief, Nana Okwan VI.
She expressed regret that the movement was no longer being given publicity by the media for its activities and programmes, and that the situation, has created the impression that it had collapsed. "It is still vibrant," she declared.
Nana Konadu said she was surprised, that newsmen in the central region, have "even not ventured" to go near her, as she is always shunned by the media in other areas when she went to inspect projects of the movement.
She said the movement will continue to promote the welfare of women and children, as well as environmental rogrammes and others that would be of benefit to the communities in which it operates.
She stressed the importance of day-care centres, to the early development of children, and expressed concern about the government's failure to assist such centres established by the movement.
"This is not good enough for the empowerment of women who are direct beneficiaries of the centres", she said.
She thanked the people of Pomase for her installation and pledged to help in the development of the community, and called for peace and unity among the people, stressing that no community can achieve any meaningful development without peace.
Nana Okwan VI said the community decided to confer the chieftaincy title on Nana Konadu for her immense contribution towards its development.
He enumerated a number of programmes the community benefited through the former first lady's assistance. They included borehole, woodlot plantation and a day care centre.
The chief appealed for the provision of more boreholes and a primary school.
Mr Boafo was not happy about decisions of some members of transport unions who sometimes come out with arbitrary transport fares, which he described as counter-productive.
"Such arbitrary increases in transport fares only help make members of the public alarmed and sometimes misinterpret it to mean that it is the government that has made the increases and therefore, perceiving it as insensitive to their plight.
Mr Kwasi Adu-Amankwah, Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), reminded the GPRTU and other affiliate of the union that the constitution and policy of the TUC prohibits the union and its officers from direct political affiliation or submission to any political party.
He said the policy of trade union neutrality from any political party is meant to protect the union from division "that can arise within our ranks, simply on the basis of political affiliation".
"As workers in the trade union movement, we believe that we have common interest that unite us above our political differences", he said. Mr Adu-Amankwah said he was of the conviction that the GPRTU has learnt important lessons from its recent past.
The TUC Secretary-General proposed to the GPRTU to strive to set minimum standards that must apply to all its operatives in the transport sector, particularly drivers.
Mr E.K. Gbedemah, National Chairman of the GPRTU, appealed to the government to abolish or remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on procurement of new commercial vehicle into the country.
Four candidates as at Friday have filed their nominations to contest the national chairmanship position.
They are Mr Yaw Oppong, Kofi Aikins, Jonathan Tetteh Hago and Nana Yaw Manu.
Those vying for the position of General Secretary include Mr Stephen Okudzeto, Mr Peter Agya Ansah and Mr Kwaku Atiemo.
