The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the number one priority of his government, if elected into power, will be the provision of jobs.

The NPP leader promised hundreds of thousands of jobs to the teeming masses of unemployed Ghanaian youth are desperately yearning for.

According to him, well-thought out policies in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, as well as the provision of a conducive environment for the private sector to flourish, will be key to creating these jobs for the youth.

The NPP flagbearer made these comments whilst campaigning in Drobonso, in the Sekyere Afram Plains constituency, in the Ashanti Region.

With agriculture being the predominant occupation amongst the residents, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that Ghana’s over-reliance on cocoa will not be a feature of his government. Rather, an aggressive diversification of cash crops, akin to the developments in neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire, which earns that country $12 billion in export revenues, will be pursued by his government.

“The production of cash crops such as cotton, oil palm and cashew will receive major attention from my government. Maize production will also be given a major boost. If this nation is to make any meaningful change in the lives of Ghanaians, our efforts must be directed at this sector. The mainstay of the majority of Ghanaians is agriculture, thus, the majority of people can only feel a change in their lives when we develop agriculture,” he added.

With the structural transformation of Ghana’s economy, premised on value-addition as opposed to exports of raw materials, Nana Akufo-Addo reiterated his commitment to rationalising the fiscal regime to encourage local production and businesses. This, he stressed, will be achieved through the provision of fiscal incentives and institutional support to promote and spur development of the private sector and thereby create jobs for the youth.

“This is the only way we can move Ghana away from being highly indebted and poor to a prosperous country. We have everything we need in this country to be prosperous. All that is required is good leadership,” he added

Solving the Fulani menace

The Sekyere Afram Plains constituency is one of the constituencies in Ghana worst affected by the activities of herdsmen whose cattle destroy farmlands of farmers.

Nana Akufo-Addo stated that Brazil with a population of some 200 million people has a cattle population of some 213 million. This, however, has not brought the kinds of problems we are facing here in Ghana.

“Brazil has put in place policies and measures to ensure that the animals are ranched and therefore do not ‘mingle’ with the human populace. These are the kinds of policies we will put in place if we win the election to ensure this Fulani menace is curbed, once and for all,” he added.

Zongo Development Fund

With a large Zongo community in the constituency, the NPP flagbearer reiterated his commitment towards the setting up of a “Zongo Development Fund” aimed at solving basic infrastructure problems existing in Zongo communities across the country.

The proper management of the country’s public finances, he added, will allow the Fund to be established.

Nana Akufo-Addo urged the people of Sekyere Afram Plains to vote for him in the presidential election, and also for the party’s parliamentary candidate, Joseph Gyamfi Owusu, aka, ‘Odenkyem’.

Accompanying Nana Akufo-Addo were the NPP National Women’s Organiser, Otiko Afisa Djaba; NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako; former MP for Offinso North and former Minister of Trade and Industry under President Kufuor, Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku; NPP MP for Kumawu, Hon. Philip Basoah; NPP MP for Bantama, Hon. Kwabena Kokofu; NPP Ashanti Regional Secretary, Sam Pyne; Acting NPP Ashanti Regional Organiser, Stephen Amoah; Daniel Kwasi Adusei, former NPP Constituency Chairman for Kumawu; Campaign Aides to Nana Akufo-Addo, Iddrisu Musah Superior, Pius Enam Hadzide and Charles Nii Teiko Tagoe; amongst others.