Western North Region Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Michael Aidoo has assured that the next Mahama administration will restore all lost development pillars in the region, particularly cocoa roads leading to productive areas.
He observed regrettably how the Akufo-Addo government has brought cocoa farming to its knees with its attendant indescribable hardship on thousands of farmers and their families in the Western North Region.
“Cocoa farming used to be the pride of Western North. Through this economic venture, many parents were able to make ends meet. The dreams of many parents for their children to become doctors, artisans, teachers, engineers, and other noble professionals become possible because of proceeds from their cocoa farming. It is a shame that such comfort has only become memories.
“Years back, it would have been unthinkable to assume that galamsey will be more attractive than cocoa farming. Now, rich cocoa-producing lands are being exchanged for galamsey. Because this government has made farming look like a form of punishment.”
Speaking to journalists at Sefwi Wiawso, Mr Aidoo recounted good times when cocoa farmers were supplied with free seedlings and fertilisers, under previous NDC governments, to encourage them to produce more, a situation which saw Ghana producing impressive tonnes of cocoa for export.
“All these innovative ideas have been messed with, by this government. Even fertilizer bags that had no for sale written boldly on them were being sold. Speak to any cocoa farmer, and what you will hear will be a worrying sense of dejection. Their farms have been cut down, diseases are taken over those whose farms still stand, and initiatives introduced appear not well thought through and are not yielding the needed results. And for any farmer who will want to tell you the truth, times are tough.
“Cocoa farming was at the heart of our survival. And the assurance of the NDC is that we will restore the pride of Western North. We have done it before, and certainly, we can and will do it again.
“Look at the state of our capital, especially our road network. Given what this region offers Ghana, we do not deserve what is happening. I remember how you had to spend days to travel to Kumasi. NDC made it possible to embark on the same journey within hours. Gradually, we are going back to those days when you had to spend several productive hours to traverse from one part of the region to the other and also connect other regions.”
He bemoaned that the Region did not get any ministerial appointments in the recent reshuffle.
“At least, the only one we had should have been maintained. I will leave what happened to your interpretation but I see it as a snub, disrespect and disregard as though there is no one in the region worthy of a ministerial position. But during the NDC time, we had people, from the Western North enclave, serving in ministerial positions.”
Michael Aidoo encouraged residents of Western North not to fall for the “lies of the government as they will be hearing promises of heaven as the election 2024 beckons”.
“You should be wary of promises that will be made soon. These are nothing but only meant to secure your votes. Akufo Addo and his government promised many things, including a sky train. What has happened? What we have in exchange is wanton cases of corruption, which they even do in the open, arrogance of power and disregard for law and order.
“The NDC promised schools, and we had many built, including several E-blocks, built hospitals which can rival any other in the world, introduced innovative schemes for our professionals including teachers, the security services among others.
“Gone are the days that the then NPP in opposition used to compare Ghana with the UK and the US. Now, our benchmark is Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Rwanda, which countries are even doing better than us. Unless you do not want to be truthful with yourself, things have become worse under this government.”
He called on electorates to give John Dramani Mahama a second chance because he “has been there before, and we all saw what he did”.
“Indeed, he had his flaws, but comparatively, he has been vindicated with all the rot happening under the watch of Akufo-Addo.”
