General News of Wednesday, 13 August 2014

Source: godfred sey/rainbowradio.co.uk

Ghana for Sale - CPP

The Deputy Communication Director of the Convention Peoples' Party (CPP) Ernesto Yeboah has criticised government on its intention to import farmers from India into the agricultural sector of the country.

Describing such a move as insensitive to the plight of the farmers of Ghana and the worst policy that can ever be thought of, by any well-meaning government.

Adding that, such a move by the government puts the nation up for sale to foreigners and pushes it into the land into slavery.

He noted the huge percentage of Ghanaians in farming yet they have been neglected hence, the situation and the poverty invoked by the leaders of the land.

Speaking to George Yaw Okyere and Kwaku Owusu Frimpong on the morning show of the Rainbow Radio International: FRONTLINE, Ernesto was critical of Parliament and their role in protecting the sovereignty of the country.

Adding that, the MPs have disappointed the country, passed laws that are inimical to the economic status of the country yet, they take huge salaries and benefits, as well as, ex-gratia and other exemptions. He sighted situations where PMs have signed documents which they have not read through and questions their competence in protecting the country.

A Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Dr Robert Aidoo in his submission said, the importation of foreign farmers is a wrong move and would not address the challenges the agricultural sector.

He noted that, the fundamental problems of the sector have not been addressed, and therefore any action that does not focus on those issues would not bring any change.

He said the sector needs investment and government commitment which has not been done.

Dr Aidoo disclosed that, the agricultural sector has not had their subvention for three-quarters, their field officers have no means of movement to educate the farmers coupled with the high cost of farming inputs.

He added that the high cost and accessibility of fertilizer, unavailability of irrigation and improved seed quality are also some of the problems of the agricultural sector and its low yields.

He suggested that, government could form graduates into farming groups and give them the needed logistics and the results would be a masterpiece.