Bawku, (UE), April 24, GNA- Mr. Emmanuel Ansah-Antwi, Flag bearer of the Democratic Freedom Party {DFP) on Thursday said the party would make the agriculture sector one of its topmost priorities when voted to power for the 2008 elections.

The Flag bearer said this when he paid courtesy calls on chiefs in the Upper East Region to solicit their mandate for the 2008 elections and to also meet and interact with the party delegates in the region on how to strategize for the forthcoming general elections. He explained that farming inputs, including farming equipment and seeds would be subsidized to make it affordable for many Ghanaians to go into farming to feed the Ghanaian populace.

He noted that currently there were eminent shortage of food in the world and Ghana for now could not boast of enough reserves to neutralize the crisis and stressed that this issue could only be handled by empowering more farmers through subsiding agriculture inputs for them to enable them to go into more farming.

He indicated that the construction of many small irrigation dams would be provided to enable farmers do all year farming, especially in the three Northern Regions where farmers do only one farming for one rainy season.

Mr. Ansah-Antwi stated that DFP would review the over liberal trade policies of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) which had hampered the growth of the local industries. The Flagbearer also said the DFP would also give special attention to the tourist industries to generate more employment and wealth for Ghanaians, especially the youth and women. The Party, he noted, would be more committed to the general improvement of the welfare of Ghanaians with particular regards to the poor and underprivileged.

"In this direction, we shall work towards the provision of the basic necessities of life such as adequate food, housing, clothing, water, healthcare, quality education, roads, energy, and telecommunications, among others, which are the pre-requisite for bringing happiness to any society. Affordable Social Services will therefore be vigorously promoted", Mr. Antwi emphasized. The Flag bearer stated that in respect to the need for gender equality in contemporary politics and gender mainstreaming, DFP would pursue appropriate affirmative action in all areas of national development.

Some of the Chiefs the Flag bearer visited in the Region included the Paramount Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Zebilla Chief, Naba Abaya Ndago II, Pusiga Chief, Naba Akwaka Ibrahim Ayumah, Garu-Tempane Chief, Naba Akontam Awuni, the Regent of Mamprugu Traditional Area, Ibrahim Adam Zangbegu and the Regent of Nangodi Alex Kofi Bagnaba. In all the areas visited, the flag bearer was received with rousing welcome and wishes of God's guidance for his endeavour.