The First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has called on women in the sub-region to make sure that the continent advances in peace as a major tool for progress and development.
She said good governance, transparency and honesty are necessary tools to create a peaceful atmosphere, which would take people’s mind off conflict and move the continent forward. The First Lady made the call when a six-member delegation made of the Wives of British Parliamentarians called on her in her office.
The delegation, led by Ms. Diane Abbott, Britain’s first Black Woman Member of Parliament since 1987, is in the country to see at first hand the role women are playing in the country’s political, economic and social arena and to strengthen the links between the two parliaments.
Nana Konadu, also the President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, said peace and poverty reduction have been two major components the Movement is striving to achieve. She said the African continent is beset with many problems manifested by wars especially, in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Angola.
The First Lady said Ghana has enjoyed a certain level of a peaceful atmosphere and attempts must be made to ensure that peace prevails in neighbouring countries. She also touched on the empowerment of the Ghanaian woman and how to get a greater number into the political arena saying, “women are more practical when faced with challenges and can work to the best of their ability”.
Mrs. Cecilia Johnson, General Secretary of the Movement, said being the only mass women’s organization in the country, it focuses on the education of the female child and “to sensitize women to send their girl-child to school”.
Ms Diane Abbott congratulated the First Lady and her team for the work they are doing adding that they would endeavor to assist to improve the status of women in Ghana and Africa as a whole.
