31st December Women's movement holds rally

Tema, June 02, GNA - Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), on Tuesday said that Ghanaian women were lagging behind in all spheres of life in the society.

She said it was obvious that people, especially women, were still suffering under the present economic conditions and called on them to examine their conscience and present plight and make a wise decision by voting for a government that would champion their cause to come to power.

She was speaking at a rally at Tema to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Movement, which was under the theme: "Destined to Succeed; 31st DWM". Singing "Yen wu ye, ye tse ase," (meaning we are still active and not dead) the members, who were drawn from the Greater Accra Region, wore red beret and went on procession through the principal streets of Tema.

Nana Konadu said it was to champion the good cause of women that she used her position as the First lady to form the Movement with the objective of equipping women with skills to become economically viable and support their domestic income.

The former First Lady enumerated some of the achievements of the Movement as the establishment of day care centres at strategic points in the country and helping women to go into income-generating ventures such as gari-processing and batik/tie-dye making.

Dr Tony Aidoo, a Leading Member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stated that he had no regrets asking Mr Moses Asaga to resign after making a statement on the CNT Loan Agreement in favour of the Government.

He explained that Mr Asaga's statement was a betrayal to the NDC, which stood for probity and accountability.

Dr Aidoo said since it assumed the reins of government, the New Patriotic Party had not been able to implement its promises such as offering jobs for the youth and the abolition of the cash and carry system, instead it had increased utility bills, which had worsened the economic condition of Ghanaians.

Dr Aidoo called on Ghanaians, especially members of the NDC, to gather courage and speak against the lies being peddled by the NPP against the NDC and bring the truth to light to enable Ghanaians to make informed choices.

He expressed regret that the laudable gains made by the Movement had been thrown over board by the NPP and asked the members to unite and vote it out so that the NDC would come to power to enable them to continue with their income- generating activities to the benefit of women.

He accused the Government of using the propose National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to increase the VAT by two-and- a- half per cent and claimed that after six months deduction all the proceeds would be put into the general tax bowl.

Dr Aidoo accused the Government of selling the sovereignty of the nation to the Untied States and thereby exposing the country to terrorist attack in the future.

"Every Ghanaian has the right to say enough is enough because the NPP is leading us into dangerous waters", he said.

Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa West said in spite of the too much talk by the NPP that it would elevate women in society, its Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs had not been able to come out with a policy on women.

She pointed out that the NPP could not take any credit for championing the cause of Ghanaians because it had not made any achievement in its three and half years in office, saying, "its coming into office has exposed the difference in governance between the NPP and the NDC.

This is good for the NDC because it would help the populace to vote wisely in favour of the NDC to continue with its developmental programme as the NPP had failed the nation.