Offinso (Ash.) Dec. 24, GNA - Mr Sampson Kofi Kwarteng, a prominent farmer in Offinso in the Ashanti Region, has called on cocoa farmers, fishermen and other crop farmers to rally behind Professor John Evans Atta Mills to win the December 28, 2008 presidential run-off. He said it is only the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by Professor Atta Mills that could adequately address the concerns of farmers and fishermen as well as the numerous problems that confront the agricultural sector.

Mr Amaning said his conviction was based on a critical analysis of the NDC and the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) manifestoes. He was contributing to a farmers mini-rally organised by the Offinso South Constituency of the NDC at Mansra, a farming community in Offinso on Monday.

The rapid growth of the nation's population, he said, demanded a government that could invest and revitalize the agricultural sector to produce enough food for both home consumption and export. "Ghana is an agricultural country and that any government which refuses to invest in the sector or give it the due recognition it deserves, should be ignored and rejected," he said.

Mr Amaning said the discovery and possible exploration of oil in the country was another serious challenge to any government not only to boost food production, but also intensified and strengthened the agricultural sector to give true meaning to the country's industrialization.

"The future government should initiate an aggressive agricultural programme capable of meeting the demand and requirement of numerous investors, workers, businessmen and other visitors who may migrate into the country to transact businesses," he said. Mr Amaning noted that, it was only Professor John Atta Mills, who had credible manifesto for the agricultural sector.