Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) Nana Konadu Agyeman- Rawlings has stated that the NDC leadership under President Mills has failed to admit the problems and short-comings that characterized the NDC congress in Sunyani in July 2011.

She alleged that over 500 delegates who are her supporters were denied accreditation to vote.

She was speaking with SaCut Amenga-Etego host of the ‘NEW VOICES’, a political talk show on an Accra-based radio station Xfm 95.1 on New Year’s day.

Asked how she perceives the handling of the aftermath of the congress by the NDC leadership, the former First Lady said: “First of all before you can handle an aftermath, you have to accept that you did the right thing or the wrong thing…you have to accept that there were mistakes before you can handle the aftermath. If you cannot accept that there were mistakes, how do you handle an aftermath?

And I have over 500 people who were denied accreditation to go and vote even though they are constituency executives so if you don’t accept there are mistakes, you cannot attempt to correct the mistakes…They know all what they have done that is right or wrong and they have to deal with it by first accepting that there were mistakes,” the former First Lady said.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings asked Ghanaian women to be ambitious in 2012 because ambition is good and women must not be bothered about people referring to them as over-ambitious. ‘If it wasn’t for ambition, we wouldn’t have cell phones today, man wouldn’t have gone to the moon or flown airplanes and we wouldn’t have satellites giving us information on the airwaves so ambition is good,” she stated.

In reaction to a question on her expectations from the NDC leadership regarding the ‘house-cleaning’ call by the NDC founder, she said she cannot determine if the NDC leadership will heed the call by the party founder Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings considering that the leadership chooses to go in their own direction. ‘What the party founder said is clear and we all understand it…you cannot use an organization that is tainted with corruption or negativity and expect to get a first class in any examination…it is not possible so until they do that house cleaning, the rest will be history,” she asserted.

Asked if she expects the ‘house cleaning’ to come to pass in the NDC she said “I’m not a soothsayer otherwise I would’ve told you about so many things…It would be foolhardy to try to answer a question like that knowing the current prevailing conditions in our party.”

She also accused the Kufuor administration of taking over buildings of the DWM for NHIS and District Assembly offices with some even labeled as ‘HIPC’ projects. She said even though the courts have ordered their return nothing has been done. She said, her organization intends to write to the individual assemblies to return such properties, and if that fails, the Movement will proceed to sue the DCEs or ministers in charge of such institutions to retrieve the property. She revealed that former Attorney-General Betty Mould Iddrisu requested an out-of court settlement for one out of the five DWM cases sent to court but said that settlement hasn’t taken place yet.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings wished all Ghanaians a reflective new year saying that even though many people had their dreams curtailed in the past year due to hardships, it is her hope that this year, things will get better.

Story by A.S Denis/Xfm 95.1/Accra-Ghana

Nana Konadu also called on parents to guide and monitor their children closely as they embrace modern technology such as the Internet because of the potential to corrupt children.

The former First Lady made the call at a grand ceremony to install her as the Nkosuohemaa (Queenmother of Development) of the Akyem Abuakwa state of Dokrochiwa in the Eastern Region.

Nana Konadu was crowned with the stool name, Nana Konadu Agyeman Opambour I.

Accepting her coronation asNkosuohemaa, Nana Konadu Agyeman Opambour conceded that a huge responsibility had been bestowed on her and thanked the Chiefs and people of the town for the honour done her.

She commended the Chiefs and people for launching an educational fund at the same ceremony and said the DWM had over the years supported disadvantaged children to pursue their education, stating that she was proud to have met some of the beneficiaries at both international and local forums.

Earlier Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, who accompanied his wife to the grand durbar praised the people of Dokrochiwa for “their fortitude, integrity and courage in recognizing Nana Konadu.”

President Rawlings called on the people of Dokrochiwa and Ghanaians to always embrace the truth. He also praised the people for instituting an educational fund and charged all the citizenry to contribute their quota to the development of education. “Nobody should overlook the value of education,” he said.

The Chief of Dokrochiwa, Nana Bafour Anom II said in his welcome address that he was on a mission to uplift the image of Dokrochiwa. He described Nana Konadu as a “mature woman of wisdom” and expressed the pride of the chiefs and people that she had accepted to be the Nkosuohemaa of the town.

Nana Anom said it was distressing to see children of school-going age loitering about aimlessly, hence the institution of the educational fund. He called on his people to join hands in supporting the educational fund.

President and Mrs. Rawlingsdonated an amount of one thousand cedis to the educational fund. Earlier the newly installed Nkosuohemaa had donated five hundred cedis and assorted drinks to the Chiefs and people of Dokrochiwa.

Prophet Nana Daasebre Nana Mmea chaired the ceremony. Also present was the Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Samuel Aye Paye.

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Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was on Tuesday conferred with an Honorary Emeritus Fellowship by the BOARDROOM INSTITUTE of the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership at a grand ceremony at the National Theatre.

Nana Konadu was awarded for championing Gender Governance and serving as an inspiration to women across the country.

Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori also received a similar award with 12 other enterprising leaders receiving Honorary Fellowships of the Institute.

An enthusiastic audience who were overwhelmed by the presence of the former First Family cheered Mrs. Rawlings who was accompanied by her husband and Former President of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and her two daughters, Yaa Asantewaa and Amina on.

Accepting her award, Nana Konadu said the journey of women’s empowerment is far from over.

“Many sectors of our society still relegate women to the background, regarding them as second-rate citizens. Ihave always known that until women become an absolute part of national development both in quality and quantity, our country Ghana will not be what it can be.”

She said society needs to progress to a stage where the issue of male/female divide will be a blur and will not factor in decision-making.

“Leadership, the former First Lady said, “is about capacity, competence, ability to perform and analyse results. More importantly, leadership is about inspiring others to pick up that mantle to in turn lead future generations. I humbly use this medium to call on all sectors of our society to believe in the leadership abilities and capabilities of women.”

Nana Konadu was full of praise for her family who she said had served as advisors and critics. She also praised members of the 31st December Women’s Movement who she said had worked hard to break the cycle of poverty.

The executive director of Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey who was Chairman of the occasion challenged the private sector to support the building of strong institutions and consolidate Ghana’s democracy by investing in the memoirs of leaders.

Guest Speaker, Dr. Kwesi Jonah, Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana lamented the huge gap between the development of democratic institutions in Ghana and that of private sector development. He said while our democracy was becoming the envy of many across the continent, private sector development could not boast same and called for a conscious effort to ensure that private sector developed at a fast pace enhance national development.

Please find below the full text of Nana Konadu’s acceptance speech.

ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY NANA KONADU AGYEMAN-RAWLINGS, FORMER FIRST LADY AND PRESIDENT OF THE 31ST DECEMBER WOMEN’S MOVEMENT AT A CEREMONY TO CONFER ON HER AN EMERITUS FELLOWSHIP FOR GENDER GOVERNANCE BY THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP

Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings,Your Majesty Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Chancellor of the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership, Reverend Gideon Titi Ofei, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

When I received the letter of conferment of the Emeritus Fellowship in recognition of the role I have played in women empowerment and development, which you have very appropriately labeled ‘Gender Governance, I was humbled.

I feel a sense of pride because it will encourage many more women to reach for certain goals in life.

To reach your potential and to make a difference in the lives of people, you must first determine your vision of a better world and get started. I always say that you have a chance once in a lifetime to make a difference and you either take that bold step or you don’t and you live to regret it. I decided to use will and desire to energize and motivate myself to overcome my obstacles.

For 29 years, I have worked diligently and persistently on developing women socially, politically, economically and culturally. Has it been an uphill task? Most certainly. However I put commitment and conviction above all else, and today the confidence of Ghanaian women in all spheres of national development is visible.

While we recognize the role of women today, the journey of women empowerment is far from over. Many sectors of our society still relegate women to the background, regarding them as second-rate citizens. I have always known that until women become an absolute part of national development both in quality and quantity, our country Ghana will not be what it can be. Our society needs to progress to a stage where the issue of a male/female divide will be a blur and will not factor in decision-making.

Mr. Chairman, leadership is about capacity, competence, ability to perform and analyse results. More importantly, leadership is about inspiring others to pick up that mantle to in turn lead future generations. I humbly use this medium to call on all sectors of our society to believe in the leadership abilities and capabilities of women.

Mr. Chairman, my success in the area of Gender Governance has been due to the strength of character and resilience of a group of women – the 31st December Women’s Movement, who have been with me through a journey spanning 29 years.

While sharing this award with all the hardworking and efficient 31st December Women, I also want to share this with all the young people who in their various ways have confidence that we need African women on board to improve the quality of lives in our countries.

I have to say a warm thank you to my lovely children who have been both my advisors and critics.

My mother Felicia is here. Thank you ‘mommi’. You gave us the moral education and strength of fortitude that continues to guide whatever I do. If my father were still alive, I would say thank you for giving me the direction in life; for inspiring me to remain unperturbed by obstacles to my vision. He would say ‘now that man has managed to land on the moon, the sky is no longer your limit – reach beyond the skies.

And to my husband, who has always supported me, believed in me and offered inspiration that every wife needs, thank you. I am proud of who you are to me and I dedicate this award to you, my family and to all who have contributed to who I am today.

I know I have already said this but I have to say again that I am eternally thankful to all women of Ghana, especially to the 31st December Women’s Movement who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to break the cycle of poverty in their communities.  And to the youth of Ghana who stood boldly behind me in the belief that a woman can do it, I say thank you.

To the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership I saythank you for the role you are playing in boosting the capacities of leaders in our society, many of who previously did not have a local platform to pursuefurther education.

Your awards today will serve not only as an inspiration to us the recipients, but to many across the country.

Thank you.

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Former first lady of Ghana and NDC flag bearer contender Nana Konadu Agyeman- Rawlings has climaxed her nation-wide ‘thank you’ tour with a massive reception by residents of Tamale, the Northern Regional capital on Saturday October 1.

The occasion was used by the former First Lady to thank her supporters and delegates who rooted for her during  her campaign to lead the NDC into the 2012 election.

Earlier in the week, she had visited the Upper West regional capital, Wa as well as Bolgatanga in the Upper East region where she received massive crowds of singing, drumming and dancing supporters. The crowds and scores of motor bikers led Nana Konadu from the Tamale airport from where she paid courtesy calls on several prominent chiefs in the Tamale metropolis before proceeding to meet with and address her numerous supporters at the Teachers’ Hall.

Prior to her visit, there were reports of threats from NDC youth groups known as the ‘Azoka boys’ warning the president of the 31st DWM and her FONKAR supporters to stay away from the region akin to the situation that confronted her  in Cape Coast a fortnight ago where so-called ‘macho men’ locked up the venue for her meeting in the presence of uniformed police men without any resistance – a situation that received little condemnation from the NDC party top hierarchy – further re-enforcing the perception that these orchestrations may well be planned.

From 9:30 am when she arrived at the Tamale airport, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings held meetings with six different chiefs in and around TAMALE before climaxing the day with a meeting and address to her supporters at the fully packed to capacity Teachers Hall until 6:15pm.

According to XFM news sources, residents of Nyoni, a suburb of Tamale who recently resisted any attempts by NDC leaders to visit their chiefs and peoples abandoned their stands and came out in their numbers and in their party colours upon hearing that Nana Konadu was visiting their chief.

Nana Konadu asked her supporters to ignore ‘pure lies’ been peddled about the NDC party founder by people who are bent on destroying the foundation of the NDC. She particularly described as complete falsehood, reports that the burnt house of the former President and NDC founder Jerry John Rawlings is under reconstruction. She stated that ‘not even a foundation has been laid. And the media is welcome to see it and take pictures so we will all know the ones who are dishonest when it comes to this issue’, she stressed.

But unlike in Cape Coast where these threats were carried through, Xfm95.1 can report that the situation in Tamale was totally different. Motor bike riders, plus scores of party supporters clad in party paraphernalia took over the streets of Tamale in massive show of support for the former First Lady contrary to directives by party officials for them to boycott the meeting. There were also reports of a struggle for Nana Konadu T-shirts on the streets of Tamale – a clear signal that the Rawlings’ enjoy massive support at the grass roots level of the party beyond the so-called 3.1% support base.

Nana Konadu insists that she will not abandon the party founded by her husband and former President, Jerry John Rawlings. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings stressed the need for a party devoid of apathy at the grassroots to make it capable of winning the next elections. She also lamented the situation where government officials continually create the wrong impression that millions of dollars have been paid to her by the NDC government upon assumption of power. She flatly denied any such payments and asked her supporters to ignore such deliberate lies. She stressed the need for massive voter registration by the party followers when the EC opens the voter register.

Mrs. Rawlings ended her national ‘thank you’ tour on Saturday after touring all ten regions of Ghana.

Story by A.S Denis/xfm95.1/Accra-Ghana

Please find below the full text of her short opening address.

Speech for the Opening of the West African Women in Leadership Conference by Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
Venue: Alisa Hotel, Accra Date: July 14, 2011

Conference organizers, Nananom, distinguished ladies and gentlemen:

It is with great pride that I stand before you today as the first woman in the history of Ghana to attempt a run for the Office of President. It was not easy. There was no level playing field, but I went in with the boldness that it required.

Listening to the song that the lady sang here today, I think we should all take inspiration from the words:

You alone know what tomorrow brings
In a world where few hearts survive
All I know is the way I feel,
When it’s real, I’m going to keep it alive
For the road is long . . . and there are mountains in the way . . .
But with Jesus, we’ll climb higher every day

Chorus: Lord lift us up where we belong
On the mountain high
Where the eagles fly . . .
Lord lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Where the clean winds blow.

The growing number of women who are assuming prominent and frontline positions in politics and business is a direct manifestation of the strides women are making in African affairs.

This conference is a noble undertaking aimed at empowering women to intensify our efforts in various fields of endeavour to give credence to the growing belief that women are crucial in nation building. I dare emphasize that women are the centre of nation building.

On behalf of the women of the sub-region and particularly Ghanaian women, I wish all of you a successful conference.

I believe strongly that at the end of the conference we will have climbed a step further on our journey, helping and assisting women in the sub-region to reach for new and higher heights in our respective endeavours.

At this point, it is with great honour and unbounded privilege to declare the third edition of the annual West African Women in Leadership Conference in Accra duly open.

Ayekoo and welcome to Ghana.

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“She is not a leader of the party but she is the leader of the cause that we believe in; that is why we followed her. We still stand by her, so if she says today let us all go on board (a President Mills led NDC), we follow her.”

Mr. Berrick wondered how President Mills could be talking about party unity after the Sunyani congress when the party chairman has come out to say “people who got certain percentages are insignificant and therefore if they want they can break away; neutrally that is what he meant.

Because what percentage do you take to break away was a question that simply implies that if you get 90 why would you even consider breaking away? Is that the way forward? Is he working in consonance with the President? Did he listen to the president’s speech? Mr. Berrick asked.

Contrary to speculations that the former first lady’s campaign team feels ‘bruised’ hence their public outcry, Mr. Berrick opined that it was the NDC party as a whole that was ‘bruised’ and not individuals within their camp explaining that the mood for this year’s congress was different; something he said was uncharacteristic of NDC congresses.

Commenting on the silence of Mrs. Rawlings on the way forward after her defeat in Sunyani, Mr. Berrick noted “she is holding herself as how she used to be so at anytime she wants to speak she will speak and that time you will hear from her what she wants to say”.

Considering speculations that they (Campaign team of Mrs. Rawlings) are not ready to reconcile to other members of the NDC as unfortunate, Mr. Berrick said they were members of the NDC but that did not prevent them from correcting mistakes that they saw in the party.

Story by Vincent Baffour Acheampong/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana

We have invited you here this morning because there are critical issues that occurred during the flag-bearership contest which, in our opinion, needs correcting, not only for the NDC Party, but for the integrity and credibility of Ghana’s democratic process.

You will recall that, among other things, we embarked on this journey months ago to:
·     protest the denigration of the core principles of our party,
·     to restore power to the marginalised grassroots of our party and
·     to bring inspirational leadership to the country at large.

The marginalised, but deserving, grassroots of the party needed a courageous and able voice to speak for them. Nana Konadu stepped up to the challenge when no one within the leadership of the party was willing and bold enough to do so. Their excuses were ‘it is against the status quo, don’t rock the boat, it is unconventional.’

Like truth standing all by herself, she stepped out in courage. She challenged the leadership of the party and spoke out for the voiceless within our party. She spoke out against disunity. She agitated for the inclusion and restoration of the party’s principles, seeking to restore strong and decisive leadership to the centre of NDC governance and to the country at large.

She knew the journey was not going to be easy. First came the slanderous statements, the impugning of her motives and integrity, the disrespect and sometimes outright contempt for her person and family, but like a true patriot and person of conviction, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings stood on principle and spoke her mind with boldness, damning the threatened consequences of ostracism and victimisation.

These threats of victimisation and ostracism were real and present and were strongly reflected and culminated during the electoral process. The NDC Electoral Committee was composed to achieve a lopsided view point. The whole process was orchestrated and skewed in a way that prevented the contest from being free and fair.

·     For one, the attempted introduction of regional voting was intended to identify the voting pattern of the delegates. Obviously, this was designed to victimise non-conformers.
·     Secondly, there was the deliberate attempt by the NDC Electoral Committee to exclude the

National Electoral Commission from conducting the elections. It was only after the threat of legal action from our legal team that the party brought them on board. By which time the integrity of the process leading to Congress had long been compromised, at least psychologically. The input and process having been tainted, the outcome is logically bound to be tainted.

Ladies and gentlemen, throughout the process it was clear that delegates were being coerced by inducements, the misuse of the fear factor and threats to vote in a particular direction.
It is hard to comprehend.

Our opponents have already begun to dismiss the charge of the fear factor. For those who sat in the stands and participated in the process (delegates and agents), it was actual and real. In the last two days, we’ve received direct reports from well over 200 delegates who were not granted accreditation to enter the Congress grounds and thus not allowed to exercise their franchise to vote.

The adoption of tactics alien to the NDC, which includes the deliberate impoverishment of the people, was calculated to make them vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation. Despite this clear campaign of fear, we persevered, believing that, notwithstanding the negative tactics, the delegates would demonstrate a high level of courage and honour by making a choice based on the facts and principles that are clear for all to see. Unfortunately, they had already been cowered into submission.

There was a calculated plan of intimidation, not only from government officials, but by an unnecessarily high presence of heavily armed security personnel all over the inner and outer perimeter of the Congress grounds and indeed throughout the Sunyani metropolis. Since the inception of the NDC, our party has recognised that our strength is our people. Yet during this Congress, we denied entry to our party faithful into the Congress grounds. What image do we project to the nation and to the world when we lock the strength of our party outside? Why should we do this? It was unfortunate that our party faithful, who are the backbone of the NDC, were denied the opportunity to participate in this historic occasion.

Nonetheless, the delegates appear to have made a decision: a presidential candidate has been elected. One thing still remains unchanged: With the support of the Founder and the grassroots, Nana Konadu, boldly and fearlessly stood up and challenged the denigration of party principles, the weakening of party structures and the dampening of the party’s revolutionary spirit. She boldly and fearlessly stood up and challenged the growing disunity, apathy and despondency resulting in the disintegration of our party.

The president has now openly and publicly conceded that these problems in fact exist.

It took courage and a willingness to speak the truth in the face of ostracism and victimisation to exact that admission. This is the victory of her stance of courage. Let all who have our party’s interest at heart take note. To those who believed in the cause, we salute your boldness. To the grassroots supporters, we thank you, we urge you to keep faith as we will continue to champion your cause in whatever shape or form.

Thank you. God bless you and Be Bold.

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It is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to address the media in these last few days before the Congress. Over the last several weeks, my campaign team and I have had the great opportunity to travel the length and breadth of this country to address delegates and party executives in their various constituencies.

I am pleased to say that the campaign trail to be the flag bearer for NDC has been an extremely positive experience and we are especially thankful to all the delegates, particularly our party members and you the media for the warm reception we’ve received, time and again, throughout the 10 regions.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as you are all aware, I resigned my position as Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress on April 13, 2011 to respond to numerous calls to contest for the flag-bearership of the NDC. With great humility, I accepted the challenge, with the determination and commitment to restore and revive the positive energy in our party from the grassroots.

My decision to contest also arose against a backdrop of growing division, apathy and despondency among our party faithful. Under the current leadership, our party has been divided into factions that never exist before and, this, in effect, is killing the spirit of the NDC. In the past, our party has always been open to various opinions and consensus was reached without the creation of factions.

Today, our party structures are suffering from total neglect; from disempowerment at the grassroots. Power has been usurped from the very people who fought so hard to bring us back into power and from those who contributed most to support our party and lead it to victory in 2008.

Ladies and gentlemen, our Party is facing a crisis of leadership. The truth is, the performance of our current leadership has betrayed the hopes and aspirations of our primary stakeholders and our grassroots supporters, who worked tirelessly to ensure our victory in the 2008 elections.

Today, our party is in an unhealthy position and, unfortunately, our country is in no better position today than it was when we took over from the opposition almost three years ago.

Many of you here, and those listening at home and abroad had high hopes when the NDC won the 2008/9 elections. You had hopes that our government would do things differently from the party it had taken over from.

The truth is, our current leadership has lost touch with our grassroots supporters. We must build and re-build our party structures. We must re-energize and empower our grassroots. And we must restore trust and confidence in the principles and integrity of the NDC.

Ladies and gentlemen, some of you may wonder: Is Ghana ready for a woman president? YES, she is!

I will demonstrate a strong commitment to restoring public trust in politics. I will build a stronger and a fairer society. Party unity is supreme. And the foundation of this party rests on 3 pillars: Unity, Stability and Development and I plan to restore these values and revive the spirit and vitality of the NDC.

The nation is weary, and the party is disappointed because our leadership failed to uphold the principles of the NDC.

My interaction with delegates throughout the country has given me the assurance and hope that we are on the right path to victory. My campaign team and I visited delegates in every constituency, interacted with them and my message of hope and assurance has gone down well with the majority of the delegates. Many of them have pledged unflinching support for my candidacy and have enthusiastically stated that they will Be Bold in Sunyani and are prepared to throw their weight behind me. The delegates have also assured me that my candidature is timely to stop the damage that has been inflicted on the party.

A Nana Konadu leadership will ensure that this is never repeated.

I call on our teeming supporters to travel to Sunyani and join the fan fare. Even if you cannot enter the venue of the Congress, nothing prevents you from travelling to Sunyani to create a true party atmosphere and join the journey of real change for the NDC.

Ladies and Gentlemen! I have assured the delegates that:

• a vote for me is a vote for the NDC.
• a vote for me is a vote for the future and sustainability of the party.
• a vote for Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings is a vote for our great nation, Ghana!

Remember, your vote is your power. No one has the right to take that away from you!

In conclusion, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am confident that I am going to win the race in Sunyani. I am restating this to the delegates: that once I am given the mandate in Sunyani, I will win 2012 in the first round  one touch! So come July, 9th, 2011, I urge all delegates to BE BOLD, and I assure you that Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings will emerge the next leader of the NDC party.

With God, all things are possible.

Thank you.

It is my great honour and pleasure to take part in recognizing the great men and women of Ghana’s Radio and Television industry on this special occasion.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, as I stand here before you, I’d like to impress upon you the importance of the role you play in shaping our society.  Through your reporting, you mold young minds of future generations and challenge the intellect of older ones. As Radio and Television presenters, you are our nation’s primary source of information, entertainment and education. I, therefore, urge you to be role models in your profession and to allow professional integrity to be the cornerstone of your great industry and your personal credibility. As you continue on your journeys of excellence, I urge you to raise the bar by upholding the tenets of professional reporting.

This means:

1.    Strive to be honest, fair and courageous (OR, as I like to say, BE BOLD) in the gathering and reporting of accurate and well-researched information.

2.   Be Accountable: While freedom of the press is very much a valued part of our society, we must never forget that it comes with a great deal of responsibility. So be accountable to your readers, listeners, viewers and to each other.

3.     Finally: Act Independently: Again, BE BOLD, and strive for excellence, serve the public with thoroughness and honesty, free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know the truth.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, I congratulate all deserving winners and nominees for your attainment of success and I encourage you to be unwavering in your pursuit of truth, honesty and professional integrity.

Thank you.

The Office of Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, has taken serious note of a series of false, libellous and slanderous publications in the media calculated to tarnish the image and create public disaffection against the former President and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.