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Dr Mahama to initiate golden age of
increased productivity
Accra, July 3, Ghanadot/GNA – Dr. Edward
Nasigrie Mahama, Flag bearer of the People’s National
Convention (PNC) on Thursday set-off a pragmatic national
accelerated development agenda tagged; “Golden Age of
Increased Productivity (GAIP).”
He said: “The GAIP policy would serve as a contrast to the
current Golden Age of Business, which is basically buy and
sell imported goods.”
The new agenda, when voted into power in the December polls
would focus on increased productivity to enhance income with
particular emphasis on agricultural production and
agro-based industries.
Dr Mahama outlined the initiative at the last in a series of
an interactive platform dubbed; “An Evening Encounter With A
Presidential Aspirants,” a live political platform on Ghana
Television and other media networks organised by the
Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in collaboration with
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Joy FM.
The platform, under the auspices of the Ghana Political
Parties Programme enables the various presidential aspirants
with representation in Parliament to educate the electorate
on their visions, plans and how they intend to govern the
country, should they be elected as President of Ghana.
The PNC Flag bearer said the GAIP would boost agricultural
productivity as the sector continues to be the largest of
the economy in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
with over 54 percent of the workforce engaged in
agricultural and agric-related business.
He explained that; “Agriculture employs 54 percent of the
labour force and accounts for 70 percent of the activity of
the rural population,” but sadly the sector continues to
show poor growth mainly due to lack on infrastructural
development.
He attributed the low income of farmers and fishermen to low
agricultural yields, productivity and high post- harvest
losses, as well as marketing constraints and low farm-gate
prices.
Dr. Mahama noted that maize and rice, which were among the
major crops produced in Ghana, had yields that were less
than a quarter of their potential and there could be at
least a four-fold increase from the same land area if
remedial measures were taken.
“In the last 10-15 years, a yield per hectare has remained
the same at one tonne per hectare. In contrast, over the
same period, yield per hectare in Malaysia, for instance,
has increased three-fold to over four tonnes per hectare”.
He said a PNC Government would involve farmer based
associations and other agricultural related stakeholders in
the formulation of agricultural policies to ensure that
farmers and fishermen were able to increase production in a
sustainable manner.
Dr. Mahama, dressed in a beautiful designed up and down
smock with special black bonnet to much answered questions
from other identifiable groups including, Ghana National
Association of Teachers, Students bodies, Employers
Associations, Medical Practitioners and a cross-section of
the public.
He also outlined measures to fight corruption, reduce
poverty, increase agriculture, enhance education, youth
empowerment, health care, trade, mining, and good
governance.
GNA
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