Crowds welcome first lady at markets in Accra

The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama has assured market women of government’s commitment to improving conditions in the markets to facilitate trading activities.

She said President John Mahama had their welfare at heart and would do everything possible to improve facilities and movement of goods and services for market women.

Mrs Mahama noted: “the next NDC government under the leadership of President Mahama will facilitate the advancement of MASLOC loans to market women to support their businesses.”

The first Lady stated during a tour of markets in Accra including the Makola, Kaneshie and Adabraka to interact and explain NDC’s agenda for women empowerment to them and appeal to them to vote massively to retain the NDC in power.

Mrs Mahama used the occasion to explain the NDC’s manifesto on gender stressing that NDC had plans to enact legislation to cover women’s rights, including reproductive rights, and ensure that all public institutions adopt gender policies.

Under the next NDC government, policies of gender responsive budgeting will be adopted by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The government will also build on its record of women’s representation on all public Boards.

Her visit brought trading activities at these markets to a standstill as hundreds of excited traders left their stalls and stores to show their love to the first lady.

At Makola and Kaneshie, the crowd was overwhelming. The excitement reached fever pitch as the First Lady exhibited her dancing skills amidst cheers from the mammoth crowd.

Mrs Mahama appealed to the market women to vote massively to retain the NDC in power for the advancement of the better Ghana agenda.

The first lady was accompanied by Ms Sherry Ayitey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye, Mayor of Accra, Nii Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hajia Zeinab, Deputy National Women's Organiser of the NDC and regional executives of the NDC.