PPP to ban importation of rice - Dr Nduom

A future Progressive People’s Party (PPP) government will ban the importation of rice, the 2016 presidential candidate of the party, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has disclosed.

According to him, Ghana has more tracts of arable land suitable for rice cultivation than the various countries from where Ghana imports rice.

Dr Nduom disclosed this when he began a four-day tour of Accra yesterday. 

The tour of the metropolis took the PPP campaign team to the Madina Market, Weija, Gbawe, Trobu, as well as Ayawaso.

Hundreds defy rain 

Hundreds of PPP supporters had, earlier in the day, defied a downpour to meet and interact with the flag bearer of the PPP, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, at the Madina Market.

The supporters who included taxi drivers, market women, traders and some people who had just come to the market to shop, abandoned their ‘core mission’ and caused severe human traffic as they all gathered to have a personal interaction with the PPP flag bearer. 

Not even the heavy rain could deter them.

Dr Nduom was in the company of his running mate, Ms Brigitte Dzogbenuku, and other executive members of the party, including the 2nd Vice-Chairperson, Berlinda Bulley, the Executive Director, Richard Nii Armah, and the Policy Advisor, Kofi Asamoah Siaw.

Nduom to ban importation of rice

Addressing the people, Dr Nduom emphasised that a PPP-led administration would ensure that the country’s local farmers were empowered to increase their yields through mechanisation and financial support.

"The PPP is here to ask for your vote to ensure that our farmers, businessmen and women get state support to expand their business and farms to create jobs for our teaming unemployed youth,” he stated.

To buttress his point, Dr Nduom indicated that all his hotels – the Coconut Groove Hotels in Accra, Elmina and Obuasi — serve local rice.

"I have travelled extensively across the length and breadth of the country and I know what our farmers, especially rice growers, go through just to get their produce milled," he lamented.

Why in politics

Dr Nduom indicated that he was not in politics to enrich himself but he was offering himself to halt the dwindling fortunes of Ghana.

Dr Nduom then used the opportunity to introduce the PPP parliamentary candidate for the Madina Constituency, Rev. James Reynolds Boadi Baafi, to the constituents.