Atimpoku(ER), July 11, GNA - Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, President of 31st December Women's Movement has denied any wrong doing by the movement and described the legal action against its national leadership as a "political trial".

She said the movement undertook proper documentation on all transactions and kept good records. Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings was speaking at the 25th anniversary durbar of the movement organized by the Eastern Regional branch at Atimpoku.

"The movement started its fund raising activities 25 years ago by engaging in small scale business like bakery and the bread sold by its members, " she added.

Nana Konadu Agymang-Rawlings said with support from foreign donors and bank loans, the movement managed to build its financial base to embark on most developmental programmes throughout the country. She said most of the projects being inaugurated by the movement were financed through a loan facility from African Development Bank (AfDB) that had 10 years moratorium and repayment within 50 years. Ms Sherry Ayittey, Project and Finance Co-ordinator of the movement, said it had assisted to emancipate Ghanaian women and supported women groups to undertake income generation projects to increase their incomes to support their families and educate their children.

Mr Fred Ohene-Kena, Former Eastern Regional Minister and a Leading member of National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the Party identified itself with aspirations of the movement because it was in line with the Party's manifesto to improve living standards of the under- privileged. Baffour Nana Opponwaa, Krontihemaa of Akwamu Traditional Area expressed concern about indiscipline and moral decadence among the youth and urged parents to take good care of their children and train them to respect the elderly.

Ms Esther Dartey, Eastern Regional Organizer of the movement, said through its training programmes many women had been encouraged to contest elections to become assembly members and Parliamentarians. She said the movement had assisted many women to engage in income generation activities.