The New Patriotic Party in the Upper East Region has accused President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Amissah Arthur of deliberately failing to attend the 31st National Farmers day Celebration held in Bolgatanga last Friday.
In a statement signed by the party’s regional chairman Mohammed Murtala, the party said “There is no justification for this mischance, the feeble excuse been that, the weather is bad for an aircraft to carry them to Bolgatanga hence their huge absence in this very important National event. The simple question that comes to mind is, Why can’t they travel by road”?
While congratulating farmers on the celebration of the day, the party in the region accused the government of exuding a lackadaisical approach to the agricultural sector over the years and hence the overwhelming decline in the growth of the agricultural sector in the country.
“It is interesting to note that, the agric sector has witnessed a consistent decline over the past years under the incompetent NDC administration. There is no transformation taking place and real growth in the Agric sector has crumbled from 7.4% in 2008 to 7.2 in 2009 through 5.3% in 2010; 0.8% in 2011; 2.3% in 2012; 5% in 2013 ; 4.6% in 2014 and disgracefully, we can only brag of 0.04% growth rate this year.
One would have expected that, with the regretful performance of the Agric Sector, the presidency would have taking a new resolution by attaching a lot of seriousness regarding this sector by engaging more with farmers as well as investment wise” it added.
According to the statement, farmers deserve better and must be treated with respect and this will be greatly upheld under a Nana Akuffo Addo administration.
Find Below the full statement:
Press Statement
05/12/2015
THE PRESIDENCY MUST BE SERIOUS WITH THE AGRIC SECTOR
National Farmers Day is a day set aside in our national calendar to celebrate and appreciate the enormous contributions our dear farmers have chucked during the season. The Agriculture sector remains the most critical sector and the backbone of the Ghanaian economy which employs majority of our people. The NPP in the Upper East Region joins the rest of Ghanaians to celebrate our farmers at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional Capital where Mr. Ibrahim Musah was adjudged, the 2015 best farmer of the year.
it is interesting to note that, the Agric sector has witnessed a consistent decline over the past years under the incompetent NDC administration. There is no transformation taking place and real growth in the Agric sector has crumbled from 7.4% in 2008 to 7.2 in 2009 through 5.3% in 2010; 0.8% in 2011; 2.3% in 2012; 5% in 2013 ; 4.6% in 2014 and disgracefully, we can only brag of 0.04% growth rate this year.
One would have expected that, with the regretful performance of the Agric Sector, the presidency would have taking a new resolution by attaching a lot of seriousness regarding this sector by engaging more with farmers as well as investment wise.
However, it is quite disheartening that this year’s celebration was unceremoniously greeted with the dazzling absence of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama and his Vice Amissah Arthur . There is no justification for this mischance, the feeble excuse been that, the weather is bad for an aircraft to carry them to Bolgatanga. Hence their huge absence in this very important National event. The simple question that comes to mind is, Why can’t they travel by road?. If president Mahama can’t make this simple sacrifice for our farmers whose sweat and sacrifices feed us, then what are they good at..? Perhaps Openly engaging in mediocrity and consistently misplacing priorities in the Agric sector is the answer that comes to mind.
As a country, we have several means of transportation, traveling by air isn’t the only way. The President or his Veep could have used the road to Bolgatanga. Engaging with our farmers should be our outmost priority and the presence of either the president or the vice could have send a huge signal to the farmers regarding the seriousness the state has attached to this sector despite its hapless performance.
An Akuffo Addo Government would not dabble with flimsy excuses of not attending important National assignment of this stature. Our farmers deserves better and must be treated with respect and dignity. Nana Akuffo Addo would have travel by road to celebrate this day with our farmers.
NPP in the Upper East Region and Ghana as a whole congratulate all the award winners in the 31st edition of the National Farmers Day. May Almighty Allah continue to bless their efforts as they continue to feed Ghanaians?
……Signed…
Mohammed Murtala
Upper East Regional Chairman, NPP
Story by: Offei-Akoto Ayeh | A1RADIOONLINE.com | GHANA
