General News of Saturday, 9 June 2007

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle

NPP is a Cocaine Gov't - Konadu Rawlings

THE FORMER First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has electrified the Political atmosphere in the Volta Region as she charged on the NPP Government at a Seminar organized by the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) in Ho to mark the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Movement.

The arrival of the former First Lady at the premises of the 31st December Women's Movement near the flat junction in Ho, saw hundreds of women who had traveled from different parts of the Region started singing patriotic songs in "Ewe" nyonumanorme Osie ye --"meaning without women nothing is made perfect.

The jubilation was however limited following a heavy down pour which restricted the jubilant women to their seats but the"kposege"women cultural troupe from Klikor kept the place alive as they continued drumming and dancing.

The former First Lady, flanked by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central, Capt.George Nfodjoh and Shirlley Ayitey, an Executive Member of the Movement and other gurus of the 31st December Movement kept on clapping in appreciation of Nana Konadu skills in the local "agbadza" dance of which was later joined by Madam Ayittey.

The bombshell dropped when the former First Lady mounted the platform to address the gathering. She announced that plans were far advance by her outfit to stage a peaceful demonstration on Africa Union Summit Day to be held in Accra on first July to register women's displeasure about government's attitude towards women.

The First Lady pointed out that the NPP Government under the leadership of President Kufuor, has been terrorizing women groups most especially Members of the 31st December Women's Movement.

Nana Agyemang Rawlings said the existence of the 31st December Women's Movement for the past 25 years gave birth to numerous women and advocacy groups in the country and any attempt to gag them would be resisted.

The atmosphere became charged with intermittent music and dance when the first Lady described the NPP Government as Cocaine Government because the country has never experienced the high level of cocaine cases for decades.

This pronouncement was embraced by the women who responded in the affirmative and raised words like "Fiafiwo"meaning thieves.

She continued that the country is totally disorganized due to the numerous corrupt practices being engaged in by the government coupled with the energy crisis that has engulfed the country.

Nana Agyemang Rawlings provoked the curious listeners when she took a swipe on religious leaders, Traditional authorities and opinion leaders for their continuous silence on the wrongs being committed by government and challenged them to be proactive in the affairs of the country.

"What is happening to you our chiefs and priest, has your mouth been sealed", she questioned which some of the audience received by saying "muu".

Another issue the former First Lady raised was the redenomination of the cedi which she said was irrelevant saying that if the NPP government had plans to change the currency, why could the same government print the highest denominations of 10 and 20 thousand cedi notes when it assume the seat of governance, she questioned.

Nana Agyemang Rawlings pointed out that the NPP Government was abusing the rule of law, as it seems as if the law that governs the members of the NPP was different from their major political opponents as the government continues to witch-hunt top Members of the 31st DWM and the NDC in general.

"The NPP government says they are democrats but they don't understand democracy. The only way you can understand democracy is to let people have equal social justice".

Contributing, the Volta Regional Organizer of the Movement, Madam Rejoice Kasu said the organization would continue to organize educative programmes for women to enable them to be abreast with their rights and responsibilities.