Economy is suffering because of poor agric sector — Dr Mahama

The flag bearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Dr Edward Mahama, has said Ghana's economy is suffering because little has been done to improve the agricultural sector.

The current administration, he said, had left the agricultural sector to suffer and that had led to the high import bill.

To reverse the trend, he promised to implement policies that would improve the country's agricultural sector should his party win the December 7 polls.

He stated this on Saturday, when he began his 2016 campaign tour with a visit to some farming communities at Bawjiase and Adeiso in the Central and Eastern regions respectively.

Accompanied by some of the party's executive and his vice, Mr Emmanuel Anyidoho, he visited some farm, interacted with the farmers and laid before them his policies on agriculture should his party get the nod to govern the country.

During the tour, Dr Mahama also visited the chief and elders of Topiase, a small town at Awutu Bawjiase, and had discussions with them concerning some of the development challenges in the area.

He used the occasion to appeal to the youth of the area to refrain from any action that might pose a threat to Ghana's peace.

One of the farms Dr Mahama visited was Sethi Farm, belonging to a 25-year-old woman, Ms Sethina Aryee.

It was established with a grant from Danida a year ago.

Addressing the media, Dr Mahama declared: "We are importing everything, including rice, tomatoes and other poultry products. All of these could have been produced in Ghana if the government paid attention to the daily challenges that confronted farmers." 

Outlining what he would do for the agricultural sector, Dr Mahama said young and passionate people like Ms Aryee would be given massive support to expand their farms.

He said most of the youth were not willing to consider agriculture as a gainful business because there was no support package for them.