Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (middle) flanked by other officials of NDP
NANA KONADU Agyeman-Rawlings, former First Lady, founder and presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP), yesterday rated the performance of the Electoral Commission (EC) under its Chairperson, Jean Mensa, as outstanding.
Speaking during a press conference at the headquarters of the NDP at Kokomlemle in Accra, she charged Ghanaians to respect institutions of state established to perform specific roles such as managing elections.
She recalled the scathing attacks on the Chairperson of the EC and demands on her to step down by some opposition political parties. Ghanaians are in a good position to compare the performance of the two ladies to head the EC, she said, adding, “Jean Mensa’s competency has been remarkable. She has helped to remove voter suspicion. EC cannot be stampeded as an independent body and we should respect that unless there are tangible reasons for our concern,” she said.
On issues of national security, she called on her compatriots to make the subject a priority, in order not to be caught unaware in a sub-region she said has become volatile in recent times.
She expressed concern about Ghanaians not being security conscious, a shortcoming which she said has led to instances of social vices such as armed robberies, pickpocketing and phone snatching, among others.
“We are very quiet as a people, we do not care what happens to us. Sometimes our neighbours even think we are too quite so they have to find a way of destabilising our security architecture but, we need to speak out when we notice certain things, different people whom we don’t know in our communities,” she pointed out.
She, therefore, advised the National Security Ministry to embark on an intensive security education in the communities to ensure Ghanaians are well informed about the strategies miscreants and terrorists use in their operations.
She added, “The National Security should educate the public for us to be alert always, all security agencies should make every effort to intensify their operations in the communities in order for all of us to feel safe.”
The former First Lady called on Ghanaians to collaborate with the security agencies in forming watchdog associations in their respective communities, to monitor security in such places.
On technical and vocational education, Nana Konadu stated that it would be difficult for the country to develop without technical and vocational education.
She added that, “Artisans and skilled workers build a country. I know that is the answer to Ghana’s problems. Children should be given opportunity to acquire skills that will support them to become relevant in society.”
By Ebenezer Amponsah