The 2008 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has inaugurated the Network of Women in Growth (NEWIG) Ghana, an NGO located at Tefli in the Volta region, aimed at training women and empowering them through functional literacy, entrepreneurial skills training and maternal healthcare. In her address, the Founder and Executive Director of NEWIG, Mawusi Nudekor Awity called on Ghanaians to recognize and respect the role women play in society. She outlined the visions and missions of NEWIG, saying the organization aims to among others, establish sustainable health and human right clubs in basic and second cycle schools in the poor rural areas, train women in viable income-generating ventures and help them get access to bigger internal and external markets for the products made by beneficiaries. She recounted how challenging it has been raising the needed capital to commence and establish the project but was quick to say that “when we were cash trapped, one philanthropist, Nana Akufo-Addo came to our help. Without his singular and awesome support, this project would not have reached this stage.” Speaking at the function, Nana Akufo-Addo said, “it is a big honor for me to be associated with this project and to be here with you today to inaugurate this project. I congratulate the Founder and all who helped in making this important project a success.” Nana Akufo-Addo explained he agreed to support the project when he was approached by the founder, for two reasons - First, because the project seeks to empower women to be able to contribute their quota in nation building, and secondly because he believes skills and entrepreneurial training is vital in our country’s forward movement. “Our nation cannot move forward if we continue to rely on Government to provide jobs and employment to the people. The private sector partnership with Government is the only way we can reduce substantially, the level of unemployment and poverty in our country”. He congratulated one more time, the leadership of NEWIG, and said that he in fact did not believe that the project could come this far. He tasked all gathered to get the message out to others and canvass for support for the project. In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister for Women and Children Affairs, Akua Sena Dansoa tasked Civil Society groups to continue to protect and project the course of women. She promised her ministry’s support for NEWIG.