9 July Women Movement formed

Shortly after the over 3000 NDC delegates handed the most humiliating defeat to Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings in her presidential ambitions, some ardent female supporters of the former first lady mooted the idea of forming a second movement for Mrs. Rawlings, the July 9 Women Movement.

The movement according the founders, would remember the fateful day the former first lady was rejected, humiliated as well as rally extra support for her in any future shot at the presidency. The movement would also seek to reorient women against selling their conscience in exercising their franchise.

Obviously dazed by the results of the congress, the ten leaders of the proposed movement,(one for each region) felt the only action they could take to reassure the former first lady of their support was to come up with such an idea.

They wondered how the NDC delegates could reject Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings in such a disgracing manner after all that she had done for the party, especially women.Nana Konadu polled only 90 votes against 2,771 by president Mills in that historic congress at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

One of the ladies who said she represented the Ashanti region, Nana Akua Asantewaa, said the result of the election was a wake up call to those who believe in the Rawlingses, to put their acts together and fight the enemies who come at night to destroy the legacy of the former first family.

The founders of the 9 July movement promised to officially announce the birth of the movement after they have increased their support base across the country.

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings is the founder and leader of the 31 December Women Movement which led the crusade in empowering women in the 90s.

Though initially seen as a non-governmental organization, the movement later became the strongest wing of the party till the NDC lost power in 2000.

Source: Francis Owusu-Ansah, Space FM, Sunyani