Accra, Nov. 27, GNA - Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings says she is standing for the position of First Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to strengthen the party's structures and boost unity.

Nana Konadu also the President of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), said she was also keen to pursue a strong agenda to bring women and the youth into the party and make the NDC more dynamic and ensure that it grows bigger from the grassroots. A statement issued by the Office of the former President in Accra on Friday, said Nana Konadu was speaking during a tour of the Eastern Region, where she re-inaugurated branches of the DWM at Asuom, Kade, Odumase and Krobo.

"The party needs unity and discipline and I will work hard with my colleagues to ensure that we move the party onto a new pedestal," she said. Nana Konadu also used the tour to interact with the traditional authorities.

She said the revival of the DWM started in 2003 after efforts by the New Patriotic Party to crush it had failed.

Nana Konadu claimed that members of the movement were harassed whilst its projects were taken over by the district assemblies, painted and labelled HIPC projects, even though the projects were financed from funds raised from donor agencies and non-governmental organisations. She said fortunately the women were undaunted and continued to work underground to keep the flame of the movement alight. "Because we did not want the members to feel they had been abandoned we decided to revive the branches. and renewed membership drive and surprisingly the women responded in their droves. We offered them small loans to revive or start new projects.

"Over the past six months however the women have been keen to publicly assert themselves and wanted the movement's leadership to grace every inauguration or membership drive campaign to give the events wider public attention. I have no option but to oblige and have been delighted by some of the responses I have received," Nana Konadu stated. Nana Konadu visited the movement's oil palm processing project at Otumi. The project was inaugurated 14 years ago. The statement said she was thrilled to hear the success stories of the women who used proceeds from the project to send their children to school and cater for their families.

It said the President of the DWM was however asked to intervene to add value to the produce of the factory by repackaging them for Togolese vendors, who purchase the oil in large drums and paid a pittance. Nana Konadu promised to explore the possibility of bottling the oil at the Nsawam Cannery when it resumes production to add value to the produce and create a wider market for it. 27 Nov. 09