Dr Edward Mahama, presidential candidate of the People's National Convention (PNC) has assured people in the Upper East Region that his government would empower them through irrigation farming. He said what the area needed most were dams to enable them to engage in small-scale farming including vegetable farming and water for animals since most of them died as a result of the lack of water. Dr Mahama made the promise during a rally held at Chiana in the Kassena-Nankana District of the Upper East Region at the weekend. He indicated that when small irrigation dams were provided it would open up the area for all-year-round agriculture and halt the practice where the people travelled to the southern parts in search of non-existence jobs. Dr Mahama said farming inputs would be provided to farmers at subsidized prices to enable them to embark on commercial agriculture. He said under his administration he would provide potable water to the people and that the situation where the people, especially women and school children, commuted for long distances in search of water was not the best. Dr Mahama indicated that most miscarriages experienced by pregnant women were associated with commuting long distances to carry water and that most school children also attended school late due to that same problem. He said education would be one of his top priorities, especially for the girl-child, and indicated that many schools would be built and school children provided with tea and chicken daily. On the National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Mahama said his administration would make it affordable so as to enable everybody to access health care in any part of the country. He said he would also establish what he termed "Health Maintenance Organization" to improve upon the health status of Ghanaians to help prolong their lifespan to between 80 and 85 years instead of 57 and 59 years as prevailed. Dr Mahama said his government would introduce a mechanism to enable the people to undertake constant medical examination to check and monitor their health status and improve upon it. Madam Petra Amegashie, the running mate of the flag bearer, urged Ghanaians, especially women, to vote for the PNC and that among all the political parties it was only the PNC which was more gender sensitive. She said the PNC would be more committed to addressing issues affecting women when voted into power. While in the region, Dr Mahama paid courtesy calls on some of the chiefs including the Paramount Chief of Chiana, Pe Roland Ayagtam, and the Paramount Chief of Kayoro Traditional Area, Pe Oscar Tiayam II. Pe Tiayem commended the administration of the late Dr Hilla Liman and pledged his support and that of the people in the area for the party in the upcoming election. Source: GNA