Defections Hit 31st December Women

AT A TIME where majority of Ghanaians particularly NDC activists are claiming that NDC is more united than ever, Chronicle investigations have it that more of the party's women are crossing carpet to other political parties like the NPP.

Chronicle can report that the distribution of gari processing machines with seed money of ?50 million to women groups by the government is gradually causing the disbandment of the 31st December Women's Movement (31st DWM).

The NDC women's group was founded by the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, claiming to empower women in the country.

The red beret group consisted of traders, teachers and many other professional women believed to be women empowerment groups.

Meanwhile, they were to fight the cause of the former President, J.J. Rawlings and his wife (the founder) and the NDC party.

By so doing, they were always present at state functions in their red beret to give moral support to their party (NDC) before the 2000 elections.

For Ghanaians to believe that the 31st DWM, was a women's empowerment group, the founder, Agyeman Konadu Rawlings, inaugurated various projects during their time in the name of the movement as if their welfare was being sought.

Some of the projects that she even inaugurated included cr?ches, markets, corn mills, gari processing factories as well as bead factories throughout the country.

Although the movement was very strong in the Eastern region, it was stronger in areas such as Asuogyaman, Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Suhum and New Juaben districts.

An inspection conducted by the Chronicle in most of these districts shows that almost all the projects set up by the 31st DWM have collapsed with those manning them nowhere to be found.

It came out through an investigation that some members of the movement realized that they have been deceived after the 2000 general elections so they secretly broke away from the 31st DWM and formed different groups to fight for the rights of women campaign against HIV/AIDS in the areas they found themselves in.

Chronicle gathered that most of these women's groups have received financial assistance from the Ghana AIDS Commission to fight against HIV/AIDS as well as take delivery of gari processing machines with ?50 million as seed money.

In Manya Krobo, Yilo Krobo, Suhum-Kraboa-Coalter districts, Chronicle observed that the women are seriously making good use of the machine without doing politics with them.

This programme being carried by the government through the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, seems to make next year's general elections almost an illusion for the NDC.

Undercover investigation revealed that most of the women now foot several kilometres from their various homes to their work place.

Those who have crossed carpet too to NPP have started holding secret meetings with the party executives. Chronicle hopes they are not doing stomach politics.