PPP will protect farmers - Nduom

The flag bearer of the Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has declared that disadvantaged Ghanaian farmers will be protected and helped to beat off competition in the agricultural sector should the party win the December polls to form a government.

Dr Nduom noted: “American farmers are better off because their government protects them against unfair competition and provides subsidies in various forms. The PPP will provide Ghanaian farmers the same opportunities to live a better life.”

The entrepreneur expressed confidence in achieving this feat for the millions of farmers in the country, who mainly practise subsistence cropping and are outmuscled in the domestic market due to large imports of agricultural produce.

Most of the farmers are unable to negotiate for good prices for their produce, especially to large corporations and foreign entities.

Dr Nduom held a strong view that “there is a lack of local investment to support the processing of the cashew, yam, cocoa to create jobs and as a result provide the assurance of a good market for the hard working farmers”.

The business consultant, who took to Facebook on Sunday October 2 to express his frustrations, said: “There is no protection from government to ensure that the cashew farmers do not continue to suffer from predatory foreign buyers.”

He insisted that there was a huge infrastructure deficit as the roads which lead to many towns of the agricultural belt are “horrible”. He cited productive areas such as Sampa, Tuobodom, Berekum, Yeji and Kajeji as some areas where in spite of their production of cashew, cocoa, rice and yam, among others, not much investment had been put into their roads.

For him, the 2016 “election must be about development”, adding: “It must not just be about winning votes. We need votes to win power and implement our ideas, yes. But we must face the realities on the ground and fashion solutions, good ones that will improve the living standards of the people.”