Essipon (WR), Sept. 8, GNA - Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, wife of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Presidential aspirant of New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Monday said Government's free maternal health care for pregnant women was not to encourage irresponsible parenthood but to free women from 'detention' at hospitals.

"Free maternal health care does not mean irresponsible childbirth, beneficiaries must be responsible for their actions," she said. She explained that the policy was to make health care delivery easily accessible to pregnant women who had not registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Mrs Akufo-Addo was addressing women groups at the start of a three-day-tour of Western Region.

She visited Sekondi and Takoradi Markets and interacted with women's groups at Sekondi Youth Centre and GHAPOHA Junior Staff Club House in Takoradi.

The tour was to meet women's groups in the region and motivate them to vote massively for the NPP, to continue with its developmental projects.

Mrs Akufo-Addo said President John Agyekum Kufuor had played a major role in the country's development and this achievement must be promoted at all times.

She assured women that she would champion their cause and promote the welfare of children when NPP was re-elected during Election 2008. Mrs Akufo-Addo urged them to be peaceful and encourage their households to live at peace with each other.

She said every Ghanaian must work for peace during the campaign adding "we should promote and live in peace with everyone irrespective of their party affiliation and inclination."

Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Member of Parliament for Sekondi urged supporters of the Party to scrutinize profiles of the various political parties and vote for the NPP.

He said NPP had performed creditably and needed to be re-elected to continue its work.

Nana Kofi Abuna, V, Chief of Essipon appealed to Mrs Akufo-Addo to include the challenges of women and children on her agenda.

"Women and children are vulnerable groups and suffer most during conflicts and their needs should be factored into all policies and programmes of political parties to prevent from suffering unnecessarily," he said.

Mrs Akufo-Addo would also visit Ahanta West, Nzema East, Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Districts.