Kumasi — RECENT COMMENTS allegedly made by the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has infuriated some people, especially those in the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The rank and file of the NPP is not happy with the statement the leader of the December 31st Women's Movement reportedly made on Angel FM in Kumasi over the weekend, describing the past NPP government as corrupt, and further alleged that most of the NPP Members of Parliament (MPs) and past Ministers in the NPP regime were "thieves".

Nana Konadu again castigated President John Evans Atta Mills' government, saying "the government is slow." She acknowledged that even though the pace with which the current government is ruling the country is too slow for her liking, she believes that "it is not too late for the government to achieve its ambitions."

She also said President Mills has not lived up to his word since he promised Ghanaians that his government was going to involve 40% of women in the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, which has not been fulfilled.

She said the NDC has more prominent women who can perform creditably when given the opportunity. She however commended the few women in the current NDC government for their good work so far.

She mentioned Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, as well as Madam Akua Dansua, Minister in charge of Women and Children's affairs, as women in the present government who need to serve as mentors by the up and coming young ladies.

Reacting to the earlier statement made by the former first lady on the same network, Honorable Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the minority leader and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suame constitituency, said the Rawlingses should respect themselves whenever they are addressing the country, rather than to "insult personalities."

Angered by the comments of Nana Konadu, the MP said the history of former President Jerry John Rawlings and his wife are known by Ghanaians, and if anyone should be called a thief, then it should be them.

He stated that NPP inherited an amount of $198 million as the Gross International Reserve (GIR) in 2001 when it took over from the NDC, while the Net International Reserve (NIR) stood at negative $296 million.

He said when the NPP was leaving office in 2008, the NIR stood at $2.8 billion and explained the reduction in the fact that the then government had to purchase generators for the Akosombo dam, and the fueling of the generators.

He proudly stated that the NPP left the NDC government with $1.3 billion, and the recent loan of $507 million from the World Bank to support the economy meant that they (NPP) did not steal any money as Nana Konadu claims.

He said the former first lady should not forget that her husband at a point in time took seats from a military aircraft and embellished them in his room, which really tells who he is.

He reiterated that the Rawlingses should bear in mind that they are former leaders of this nation and should "watch their tongues whenever they speak in public"