31st DWM still active

Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM), Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, says the movement was still active and would continue to champion the welfare of women in the Ghana.

The once very vibrant movement, has suffered a lot of setbacks since the former government was voted out of office. Nana Konadu said the DWM would foster peace and unity and collaborate with the government in enhancing women's development.

Nana Konadu, was speaking at a durbar at Pomase, near Anomabu, in the Central Region, at which she was installed the 'Nkosuohemaa', (development queen mother) under the stool name of Nana Aba Apaaba VI for her contribution towards the development of the town.

It formed part of activities marking the 20th anniversary celebration of the movement in the region.

The former first lady said the movement has achieved a lot for women and gave the assurance that it would continue to assist them to become self-reliant.

Nana Konadu expressed regret that some people were agitating for the banning of the DWM and reminded Ghanaians that the movement was established to promote the socio-economic development of women.

She gave the promise that the DWM would continue to provide day care centres and projects such cassava processing and batik and tie-dye production, especially in the rural areas.

Nana Konadu whose 31st December Women?s Movement came under intense public criticism for its close association with the now minority National Democratic Congress, urged members to plant more trees to protect the environment from degradation.

She joined in the call on women to contest the forth-coming district level elections to enable them effectively take part in the decision-making process.

National Secretary of the DWM and former minister for Local Government, Mrs. Cecilia Johnson, commended members for their commitment and support for the movement.

She urged them to ensure that the movement survived in its "trying moments," adding, "let us safeguard the good name the movement has struggled to attain."

Mrs. Johnson said the DWM was a non-governmental organisation committed to the socio-economic development of women and called on the public to disabuse their minds that the movement was a wing of the National Democratic Congress.

She mentioned that the DWM would assist in national development and will not antagonise any individual or the government.