Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, flag-bearer of the CPP, says the country under him will produce enough to meet Ghana’s food needs. He said attention will also be paid to the nutritional requirements of the people. Dr. Nduom said this at a forum for small scale farmers organized by the Ghana Peasant Farmers Association on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. “Good nutrition does not only help children to grow and to learn better but it also translates into healthy adults and thus a more productive labour force. It will require the active participation of government – the state – in all aspects of food production – research, planning, production, storage, distribution and financing,” he stated. According to Dr. Nduom the importation of rice, chicken, pork and beef has gone up significantly since 2001. That he said was unfortunate because the NPP administration had ignored the needs of small scale rice farmers in Ghana and gone against their interests by reducing taxes on imported rice. The CPP flag-bearer said he will collect the tax on imported rice and use it to support the Ghanaian rice farmer. “The problems of the small scale farmer in Nobewam, Beposo, Nasia, Dawhenya, Afife and many areas in Ghana are crying for change that only the Convention People’s Party can bring,” he noted. He said fishermen and their families in Axim, Accra, Moree, Apam, Keta and in many other communities in Ghana were becoming poorer because of the lack of protection for the country’s fishing sites. Dr. Nduom also blamed the situation on what he called “the interference of politicians in the distribution of pre-mix fuel and the lack of protection given to our small scale fishermen against the aggression of the big fishing trawlers.” Credit: CPP campaign committee