HUNDREDS of women from the 12 districts of the Volta Region, led by the five women district chief executives and some executives of the 31st December Women's Movement, staged a protest march through the principal streets of Ho yesterday morning against a story and an editorial carried in the January 30 - February 5 edition of the "Free Press"

The story headlined, "No tears for Konadu", sought to malign the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.The women wore red bands on their heads and wrists and carried placards some of which read, "leave the First Lady alone", "Ghanaian women are decent," "We are not prostitutes", "Media Commission must act now", Ban the Free Press and "You are a disgrace to Journalism".

The women later converged at a durbar ground where Madam Vinolia Abla Mantey, Regional Co-ordinator of the National Commission on Women and Development (NCWD) presented a petition on behalf of the women to Lt Col Charles Agbenaza, Volta Regional Minister.

The petition condemned the said publication and called on the Media Commission to sanction the Editor of the Free Press for alluding that the First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is a prostitute.

"We deplore the unacceptable behaviour of the Editor who hides under press freedom to castigate and malign the women-folk of Ghana", the petition said.

Lt Col Agbenaza, who received the petition, assured the women that it will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters as soon as possible.

He described the action of the Editor of the Free Press as unfortunate and unpardonable since Ghanaian women play an important role in the development of the society.

And from Kumasi, Emmanuel Duah reports of another protest march in the metropolis by members of the 31st December Women's Movement and other organisations.

In a petition to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, the women condemned the publication and said it is unfortunate that the propaganda of hatred and lies against the First Lady should be extended to the entire women of Ghana.

The women noted that the First Lady represents Ghanaian women and typifies the Ghanaian way of dressing - she is simple and has respect for the nation's traditions and to equate her with prostitutes, is very unfortunate.

The petition described the publication as malicious and chavinistic which seeks to divide the ranks of Ghanaian women by portraying the First Lady in such negative terms.

It said it is imperative for the Free Press to recognise the good work of the First Lady and give acknowledgement where it is due.The women's groups warned that they will not sit down for the achievements of the First Lady and the 31st December Women's Movement, the NCWD and all other women's groups to be frustrated by such publications.

The women carried placards some of which read, "Men join women to condemn Free Press", "Free Press has no place in Ghanaian Journalism" and "Free Press must go".

Replying to the petition, Mr Agyekum, commended the women for fighting for their rights and expressed his dissatisfaction with the way a section of the media treats issues concerning women.

He said press freedom does not grant any one licence to use abusive words on others and called on the National Media Commission to do something about it.

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