Konadu Rawlings To Take Her Place In NDC

For those who look down on her as a woman, and President of the 31st December Women�s Movement (DWM), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, is leaving nothing to chance in her bid to become the First National Vice-Chairperson to the ruling party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC). She has intensified her efforts, by embarking on an extensive campaign in the Eastern Region to woo the votes of potential delegates. The former First Lady has therefore called on potential delegates to vote for her to strengthen the party�s structures, and boost party unity. Nana Konadu said she was also keen on pursuing a strong agenda to bring women and youth into the party, make it more dynamic, and ensure that the party grows bigger from the grassroots. The former First Lady made these comments during a tour of the Eastern Region over the past week. �The party needs unity and discipline, and I will work hard with my colleagues to ensure that we move the party onto new pedestal,� she told excited members of the DWM, who thronged various venues to confirm their membership, and re-inaugurate their branches. Nana Konadu and her team inaugurated branches at Asuom and Kade in the Kwaebibirem District. On the second day of her tour she re-inaugurated branches at Oduamse Krobo, and paid a courtesy call on the Queen mother. In statement after the trip, the former First Lady said the revival of the movement started in 2003, after efforts by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to crush it had failed. �The women were harassed, members who were teachers transferred, and whole projects taken from the women and given to District Assemblies. Some of our projects were painted and labeled HIPC projects, even though these projects were financed from funds raised from donor agencies and NGOs. 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 through a re-inauguration 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 said. Nana Konadu visited the movement�s oil palm processing project at Otumi. This project was commissioned fourteen years ago. She was thrilled to hear the success stories of the women using their oil palm project to send their children to school, and cater for their families. The President of the DWM was however asked to intervene to add value to their produce, by repackaging them as the Togolese vendors who purchase the oil in large drums, had been paying them a pittance for their produce. She promised look into the possibility of bottling the oil at the Nsawam Cannery when it resumes production, to add value to their produce, and create a wider market for it as well.