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The candidate of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has bemoaned the bad nature of roads and the deteriorating living conditions of the people of the Upper East Region, indicating that he was still shocked to find out that despite the massive support the region had, in times past, shown the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the people continued to be poor.
He, therefore, assured the people of the Upper East Region that PPP, if given the opportunity to govern Ghana in the December 7 polls, would use four years to establish a solid economic foundation for the region.
"The PPP has a number of projects it intends to establish in Upper East Region. These projects have been designed specifically to enhance the economic fortunes of the region and improve the well-being of the people," Dr Nduom said when he addressed the media after a campaign tour of five constituencies in the region.
The constituencies were Chiana-Paga, Bolga East and Central, Bongo and Navrongo.
He also used the trip to pay courtesy calls on the various chiefs and elders of the communities within the constituencies.
During the tour, Dr Nduom, at each of the constituencies visited, introduced the parliamentary candidates of the PPP to the people and called on them to show massive support for them by way of votes.
He said lack of potable water and non-existent jobs in the region were proof that the NDC administration had no agenda to change the plight of the people, bearing in mind that the Upper East Region would not turn its back on the party irrespective of what happened to them.
Dr Nduom promised the region that Ghana, under his leadership, would exceed the best the people had hoped for.
The Upper East Region has 15 constituencies, out of which the NDC is occupying 14 seats with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) holding on to the one left.
Establishment of factories
Outlining his vision for the region, Dr Nduom said he would establish a factory each for tomato, rice and meat to help open up the economy in the Upper East Region.
He said failure to honour the promises to revamp the Pwalugu Tomato and Zuarungu Meat factories were all indications that the NDC government had failed to develop the region.
"PPP government will make sure that enough jobs are created through the establishment of these factories for both the young and the old who are currently sitting at home doing nothing,"Dr Nduom said.
He said since the region had more than half of its population going into farming, he would create a ready market where the farmers would be able to sell their produce after harvest.
"There will be a market for Ghanaian farmers to sell their produce so that they can generate the needed income to expand their production capacity," the PPP flag bearer said.
Dr Nduom explained that one of the challenges that had affected many farmers in the Upper East Region and the entire nation was the absence of markets to sell their produce.
"There are no markets for farmers because the country is spending millions to import products that can easily be produced in the country," he said.
Dr Nduom mentioned the importation of rice and oil palm as some of the products Ghana could easily produce if farmers were given the needed assistance.
He said a PPP government would use its purchasing power to ensure that the nation ate what it grew, adding, "We will not spend a dime on imports."
