General News of Thursday, 9 September 2010

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

Konadu plays Mills' secret 'tape'

A National First Vice Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, has disclosed, that the 'Better Ghana' agenda concept being used by the Atta Mills government, was developed by her husband, and therefore, remains his legacy.

She said former President Jerry John Rawlings had developed the concept (ideology) of a 'Better Ghana' agenda since 1982, and presented a paper to that effect, when he was in government during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) reign.

Until the former First lady, who has of late been touring the regions ostensibly to revamp her 31st December Women's Movement, ‘played this secret tape,’ many were Ghanaians who thought the concept was developed by President Mills.

Mrs. Rawlings, who was speaking on Kyzz FM, a Takoradi-based radio station on Wednesday, as part of her three-day working visit to the region, however, refused to grade the Mills administration over its performance in government.

According to her, she was not ready to state whether the government had performed poorly, fairly, or good in the conduct of its business since it assumed office.

Commenting on current developments within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the former first lady said she was, very concerned about that, but not those that involved the government, because, "It is a party that builds up a government, and not a government building a party."

She stated that although she was still politically inclined to the development cause, particularly, about the welfare of women in Ghana and society in general, it was not yet time for her to declare her political ambitions.

According to her, whilst she would not hint on the future of her political career now, it would also be untenable to rule out women in Ghana's democratic journey, as she believes democracy was the pillar of governance for society, and not for men alone.

She, however, refused to be dragged into the internal politicking in the corridors of the government (power), emphasising, "A 'Better Ghana' agenda should be good for everyone, and not for me and my husband."

Explaining the concept behind the programmes of the 31st December Women's Movement, an organisation she used extensively to champion the cause of women in the country for nearly three decades the president of the movement said. "We do not have a single approach to development, so we are using a multi-sectoral approach."

The former first lady would be in the Western Region for the next three days as part of a working visit to some districts in the area.

She told radio listeners she would visit the Shama District to engage the women visit executives of the movement, and have discussions on the future and progress of women.