The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer and former president John Dramani Mahama has instructed the minister of agriculture to focus on assuaging the fears of wilting maize farmers instead of building political platforms to demand that the New Patriotic Party maintain its political dominance at all costs.
Speaking at a youth rally held at Accra’s Bukom Arena, Mahama expressed the concerns of maize farmers facing an eight-week dry period that might have an impact on production.
“There is a drought throughout Bono, through Savana and the Northern Region,” he said. The lack of rain over the past eight weeks has caused the crop of maize to wither.
“I would have thought that this is what the Agric Minister will be concerned with. Instead, he is saying ‘We will not hand over power, we will not hand over power’. The farmers in the north are calling you. Their maize is wilting because there is no rain. We must start strategizing how we are going to get enough maize to feed the people in the lean season,” he advised.
Bryan Acheampong, the agriculture minister, issued a third challenge to the NDC during a rally in Nsawam, saying that the ruling New Patriotic Party has all the means to win the December 7 presidential election.
“I’ve stated that the NDC would never win the 2024 elections, whether they like it or not. They couldn’t prevail. We would thus go to any length to win the elections. We are a political party made up of pastors, imams, and traditionalists; thus, we would use whatever tactics necessary to win the election. Burn the sea if you don’t understand; we’ll win and carry on with our good deeds,” Bryan Acheampong stated.
Political observers and members of civil society have strongly denounced his remarks, along with the opposition NDC’s very sharp retort, and have urged political parties to refrain from using such strong rhetoric.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com