Upper West NPP condemns group

THE Upper West Regional branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned a group calling itself Wa East Farmers Association for arbitrarily increasing the price of farm produce by 100 per cent.

It said the group's action, apart from being illegal, is also an act orchestrated by some disgruntled persons to incite the broad masses of the people in the region. This was contained in a statement signed by the Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Isshaque, at Wa.

The party, according to the statement, called on the security agencies to investigate and arrest those involved in such nefarious activities.

Last Monday, the group caused an announcement to be made on the local FM station in Wa that it is increasing the prices of farm produce by 100 per cent owing to the recent fuel price increases.

It announced that a bowl of maize, which hitherto sold at ?3,200, should now sell at ?6,000. The statement described the group as amorphous which does not exist.

"Even if it exists, it has not the authority to increase the price of farm produce," it added.

The Regional NPP branch urged radio stations in the region to always take public interest into consideration before making such announcements.

The NPP chairman congratulated President J.A. Kufuor on his election as Chairman of ECOWAS.

He expressed the hope that the President will use his diplomatic skills to help resolve some of the conflicts plaguing the West African sub-region.