The former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has stressed the commitment of the 31st December Women’s Movement to the empowerment of women to enable them to cater for their families, especially the children. She was addressing traders at the Makola Market also known as the 31st December Market in Accra on Tuesday at a mini rally to thank them for their support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the last December election. Nana Konadu explained that the focus of the Movement was because of the role of women as mothers, wives, house-keepers and bread winners of their families. She called on the women to continue their support for the NDC, which, she said, was a social democratic organization with the welfare of the people as a top priority unlike the former ruling New Patriotic Party that stands for a property owning democracy. She noted that instead of moving the country forward and caring for the needs of the people, members of the previous government amassed wealth to the detriment of the economy leading to a social breakdown with cocaine, armed robbery and other scandals. Nana Konadu noted that even though Ghanaians had voted for a change, it had not been as sweeping as it should and said that, the government would honour its campaign promises contained in the party’s manifesto including providing uniforms for all school children. The government would also tackle the problem of poverty in the country, which had been made worse in the last eight years of economic and financial mismanagement. Madam Sherry Aryeetey, Minister for Science and Environment, stated that Ghanaians had now seen the difference between the NDC and the NPP and would never again give power to the NPP. She said facilities provided at the market for the welfare of the traders which were privatized by the NPP government would be returned to the Market Women’s Association. The Minister urged the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to use some of the revenue it collects from the market to repair structures and to provide new ones. Madam Aryeetey expressed concern about sanitation and the refuse dump in front of the market, which was also disrupting traffic and said, she would invite the Environmental Sanitation Officers of the AMA to find a solution to the problem. Madam Mercy Needjan, Secretary of the Market Women’s Association, expressed gratitude to Nana Konadu and her entourage for recognizing their contribution to the success of the NDC and paying a visit to the market. Madam Juliana Adjoa Mensah, leader of the Tomato Sellers Association later presented vegetables and other items to the former First Lady and her entourage which included Mrs. Ato Quarshie and Mrs Kuma Mintah, Greater Accra Regional Co-coordinator of the Movement. Source: GNA