NDC exploits farmers for votes

The Free Press in its top story, says once, again, the ruling NDC, the party that is the epitome of putting parochial and selfish interests above those of the nation, has extended this phenomenon to the National Farmers' Day celebration.

The paper says politicising every event and issue at the least opportunity to the detriment of national development, has become the hallmark of the party.

According to the Free Press, no matter how hardworking a farmer would be, he or she would never be rewarded unless the person publicly declares support for the NDC.

The paper says that the situation is most likely to deny genuine and qualified farmers of their rewards, thereby undermining the development of the agricultural sector.

The story says that copies of a post card bearing the photographs of President Jerry Rawlings, the Vice-President, Prof. J.E.A. Mills and the 1997 National Best Farmer, Alhaji Abdulai Kpanda, decorated with NDC symbols and colours on it, were distributed to some farmers in December last year, when the "National Farmers' Day" was being celebrated.

According to the Free Press the post card does not only campaign directly for the NDC through these photographs and the NDC colours, but also carries written appeals to farmers to vote for the NDC, come the year 2000 elections.

The paper says the last words on the card, for instance, read: "For all these and more, you need the right men I say..,please reflect soberly when the time comes soon for you to decide on who deserves your mandate. You can't afford to miss the service of these able men. Think about that. Think again and again, come election 2000".

According to the Free Press, similar cards have been secretly printed to be sent to "NDC Farmers", who have been selected as award winners today, December 3.