Mrs Rawlings does not deserve to be queen

Anomabo Pomase (Central Region) 9 September 2003 - Some citizens of Anomabo Pomase have reacted angrily to the title conferred on former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings as the "Mpuntuhemaa" - development queen of Anomabo Pomase under the stool name of Nana Mpabah VI.

Kojo Asempa told the "Crusading Guide" in a telephone interview that Mrs Rawlings does not deserve to be enstooled as a queen mother of development of their town because of her track record as an ex-First Lady.

Asempa emphasized that there was a split among the elders of the town when Mrs Rawlings was nominated for the honour. He said that Mrs Rawlings and her 31st December Women's Movement (DWM) had done nothing towards the development of Anomabo Pomase.

"If throughout the 8 years rule of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), we the people of Anomabo Pomase could boost of some non-functioning bore hole projects then, what at all did we get from the NDC?" he queried.

The borehole and the day care center in this village were given to us in exchange for votes and we all voted for the NDC. That is why Konadu must not think that those projects were done through her personal initiative," he underscored. "The stool name, Nana Apabah VI should not have been given to Mrs Rawlings on a silver platter.

One Yaw Anaman contended that the branch of the 31st DWM in the town was in coma, adding he was therefore surprised that the Mrs Rawlings made it look as if 31st December of Anomabo Pomase was active.

"These are lies, Konadu and the members of 31st DWM here know that if the poor state of this community is termed as development, it is not Konadu who must take the credit, it was through our self help spirit" he concluded.

Mrs Rawlings was made named "Mpuntuhemaa" of Anomabo Pomase at a ceremony last week. Clad in kente and adorned with traditional ornament, Mrs Rawlings was paraded through the village in a palanquin. She swore her oath of allegiance to Nana Okwan VI at the ceremony.