Maame Dokono: I Stepped Down For Churcher

The Ghana International Press Center was an interesting sight to behold yesterday afternoon when women of all shapes and stature trooped there to declare their support for former Minister of Environment and Science, Christine Churcher in her quest to become the Women�s Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Among the Churcher loyalists was celebrated Ghanaian actress and human rights advocate Grace Omaboe, known as Maame Dokono in showbiz circles, who told Daily Guide that she had an eye on the NPP National Women�s Organiser slot but shelved the ambition to make way for the former Cape Coast MP - Christine Churcher. Grace Omaboe explained further that she was not the only person who stepped aside for Madam Churcher, and that the decision was taken because she has what it takes to lead and organize women in the NPP to a successful 2012 election. �If I had known someone would not agree with us and go ahead to contest Auntie Christie, I would have gone ahead; Christine Churcher is just the best person for the job and we must all support her�, Maame Dokono added. The Vice President of FIDA, Ursula Owusu; Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West, Frema Osei-Opare; Member of Parliament for Okaikoi North, Elizabeth Sackey; Member of Parliament for Oforikrom, Elizabeth Agyeman; former Greater Accra Women�s Organiser for the NPP, Vida Dugbartey; and former aspiring NPP Women�s Organiser, Tina Mensah were among the women who publicly declared their support for Madam Churcher yesterday. The event, originally planned as a news conference, almost became a political rally as a host of regional and constituency Women�s Organizers of the NPP who trooped to the venue could not keep quiet long enough for Ms. Churcher to deliver her speech. They cheered and urged her on with almost every single sentence. At a point, the women even broke into a song. Christine Churcher, in her address, said she was offering herself to provide the right kind of leadership that would propel women to greater heights. �My qualities and capabilities make me the obvious choice for the task of our women and the hitherto traditional roles of women in our party will change in all levels of the party hierarchy. �I have dealt with people from all walks of life, I promise to bring my organizational experience to bear on women of different backgrounds across the country to bring us victory in 2012. �Here is the tried and tested, indeed the three times tried and tested organizational promise. I will apply the same organizational skills that mobilized the rural folks, the fishermen, the middle income, the market women, the businessmen and the academician to win the Cape Coast constituency on three occasions to deliver victory to the NPP in 2012�, she added. Ms. Churcher has held a number of enviable positions including being a three-term Member of Parliament for Cape Coast, a Minister of State for Education, Minister of Environment and Science and the District secretary of Cape Coast.