John Dramani Mahama, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful, claimed that the government's poor handling of the nation's cocoa industry had brought the industry to the brink of collapse.
At the beginning of a two-day campaign visit in the Western North Region, Mr. Mahama spoke to party supporters and branch executives. He said that other reasons, combined with the government's refusal to yearly adjust the producer price of cocoa to postpone payment to farmers for their beans, destroyed the industry.
"We made sure that the producer price was adjusted each year under the previous NDC government.
But with this regime, that is not the case.
After four years, there have been price changes.
"This is what is bringing the industry to an end," he said.
Support
Mr. Mahama noted that some farmers no longer found producing cocoa profitable when he suggested that the industry needed to be promoted.
He made mention of a farmer who claimed he would sell his property for galamsey since the profits were far higher than those from farming.
He doesn't mind giving up his land for galamsey because the cocoa industry is now losing money.
Farmers are no longer paid instantly and do not receive bonuses for their purchases of cocoa.
"Now, farmers must wait three to four months to get paid," he continued.
The former president is touring the region's nine electoral districts and is scheduled to go on to the Ashanti Region.
Medical Minister
As the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has failed, Mr. Mahama has publicly called for the resignation of the Minister of Health.
According to reports, Kwaku Agyemang Manu said the program was no longer effective and admitted he no longer used the service in favor of paying for his medical care.
He complains angrily that people who are unable to pay are being refused access to medical services, claiming that the treatment provided to NHIS card holders at the various clinics is subpar.
The previous president reacted to the minister's admission of failure by stating that Mr. Agyemang Manu needed to step down.
"He has acknowledged his own failure." He claims that the NHIS has failed despite his inability to expand it, and he has no business serving as the minister of health. "He ought to resign."
In Sefwi Adobokrom, in the Bia East Constituency, Mr. Mahama addressed branch and constituency executives of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to thunderous applause.
More specifically, according to Mr. Mahama, people with NHIS cards are being turned away from the majority of medical institutions because the government isn't paying their claims.
"Health facilities have not received payment for the services they provided to card members since last year."
He questioned, "How do you expect them to continue treating them?"
blogpay
Total Comments: 0