Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, wife of Nana Akufo-Addo, presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said the government’s free maternal care for pregnant women was not aimed at encouraging irresponsible parenthood but to free women from detention at the hospitals. She said the policy was aimed at making health care easily accessible to pregnant women who have never registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Mrs Akufo-Addo said these at the start of a three day tour of Western Region. She said the tour was aimed at meeting women’s groups in the region and to motivate them to vote massively for the NPP, to continue in its developmental projects. “Free maternal health care does not mean irresponsible childbirth and all persons who benefit must be responsible for their actions,” she said. Mrs Akuffo-Addo said President Kufuor has played a leading role in the development of the nation and this laudable idea must be promoted at all times. She assured the women that she would speak on their behalf and promote the welfare of children, when the NPP was elected into office. Mrs Akufo-Addo urged the women to be peaceful and encourage their household to live at peace with all men. She said every Ghanaians must work for peace as the election season draws to a close, adding, “we should promote and live in peace with all men irrespective of their party affiliation and inclination”. Nana Kofi Abuna, the fifth, Chief of Essipon appealed to Mrs Akufo-Addo to include the challenges of women and children in all that she does. “Women and children are vulnerable groups and suffer most during conflicts and their needs should be factored into all plans of the various political parties to prevent them from suffering unnecessarily,” he stressed. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, Member of Parliament for Sekondi urged supporters of the party to turn out in their numbers and vote for the NPP during the December polls. He said the NPP had performed creditably and needs to be re-elected to continue its work. She visited the Sekondi and Takoradi markets and interacted with several women’s groups at the Sekondi Youth centre and the Ghapoha junior club house in Takoradi. Mrs Akufo-Addo will also visit the Ahanta West District, Nzema East, Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Sefwi Wiawso and Bibiani. Source: GNA