First Lady calls for renewal of NDC's mandate

Keta, March 14, GNA -- Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, President of the 31st December Women's Movement has called on the electorate to return the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power in this year's Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

She said this is necessary to ensure that the processes of development set in motion by the NDC are pursued for the benefit of the country. The First Lady was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Keta District at Keta on Monday at the start of a five-day working visit to the Volta Region.

She said it is evident from the way other political parties fail to acknowledge the achievements of the NDC that they will not pursue the same policies of the government even though these policies are in the best interest of the country.

Nana Konadu said the NDC government has achieved much for the country and "these achievements are unparalleled in the country's history when measured with the chaotic economic situation which the government inherited."

She acknowledged that the citizenry are not enjoying the best of conditions that they desire but said the government is moving the country in a direction of future prosperity except that external factors are militating against the progress towards such a goal.

Nana Konadu said the government has its own weaknesses as a human institution especially given the conduct of some individuals but by and large the NDC government is one of transparency with a sincere commitment to building a strong economy to achieve socio-political stability.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings called on communities in the Keta district to respond positively to the forthcoming population and housing census and not to prevent anybody from being counted on account of his or her not being a citizen of the country.

She also discouraged the people from travelling to their hometowns and regions to be counted saying that the census is meant to obtain a true number of people who live and earn their living where they are resident.

The First Lady also called on the electorate to cross check their names in the voters' registers when these are opened to ensure that their names are retained on the registers.

Those who have attained the age of 18 years should also take advantage of the opportunity to register and be able to vote in this year's elections. Togbe Nyaho Tamakloe the fourth, acting president of the Anlo traditional council, acknowledged the pace of development which has been achieved in the country through the decentralisation and district assembly concepts.

He praised the untiring efforts of the First Lady in promoting the social and economic empowerment of women in the country and the positive effects these are having in communities in the district.

Togbe Tamakloe said the traditional council is impressed about preparations on the ground towards the start of the Keta sea defence project and expressed the hope that actual construction work will begin very soon.