NDC Germany Attacks Developed Countries on Agriculture Subsidies

NDC Germany was invited by the International Civil Rights Group called ONE - WORLD which has an Allianz with all Social Democrats in the world to discuss a number of issues. on Fair Trade, Food Crises, Hunger and the War in Afghanistan. Mr.Franklin Adusei and Mr. Eric Ofori of the Germany - branch attended the conference. Amongst the Speakers were Mrs. Wieczorek - Zeul German minister for economic cooperation and development. Mr. Walter Kolbow, Dr. Baebel - Kopfler all members of German parliament and Mr. Franz Maget member of the German Social Democratic Party

In a speech delivered by the German Minister, Mrs Wieczorek Zeul she raised a concern of how Hunger and poverty could be fought which she attributed to unfair trade balance in the World between the developed and developing countries. In response Mr. Franklin Adusei the NDC- German - branch Assistant Coordinator said the World price food index of 57% high cost of food is dangerous which will affect developing country economies including additional 100 million people in developing countries. He added saying that Peace and Security will be jeopardise if the trend continue this way. He mentioned the War in Afghanistan as an example of economic desperation fuelling the war. He informed the entire Audience of 18% inflation in Ghana and agreed that the NPP government can never achieve the single digit by the end of their Term in Office as promised to their Development Partners and the Ghanaian electorate in 2000 due to unrealistic Policies not based on indigenous initiatives but solely on Foreign Aid. He told the audience that the incoming NDC government of Prof Atta-Mills will develop new indigenous Policies to fight hunger and poverty in Ghana relying on Ghana’s own Resources and less on Foreign Aid but then it is important that Global Policies on Trade and Economics are changed and made fair to support indigenous and Home-grown African Policies.

Mr Jean Ziegler, special Envoy on the Project ‘Food for All” agreed that Industrial countries are unfair to developing nations and blamed them for the Hunger and Poverty in the World. He appealed to all developed Nations to stop Agric subsidise. He added that Germany has donated Euro: 55 million as first phase of the project. European Union has also donated Euro: 500 million and pledge upto Euro: 3.4 billion for the next 6 years.

On the issue of Women Empowerment Mr. Eric Ofori NDC Special Germany Assistant in the Frankfurt sub-branch said Women formed 60% of the World population and is the strongest back - bone of the Africa economy and that Gender Rights, Equity and Empowerment would be one of the critical Policies of a Prof Atta-Mills Govt. He continued that Governments in developing countries should form a special Pension funds to cater for women of old age who are no longer active because they spend most of their Youth giving birth and nursing babies and could not save enough to cater for their old age.

The Conference took place in the Southern German City of Munich on the 11 and 12 July 2008