Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 7th July '99

Farmers would be guaranteed good prices for their farm produce if the United Ghana Movement (UGM) takes over the mantle of government after 2000 general elections, Dr Charles Wereko-Brobbey, presidential candidate of the UGM has said.

Addressed members and supporters of the party at Techiman at the weekend, he said a government of the UGM would provide enough storage facilities and other incentives to ensure that farmers do not become handicapped financially.

He spoke against the practice where hospitals, clinics, and schools are built in the rural areas without qualified staff to man these facilities and described them as white elephants.

"The sick go to hospitals not to look at buildings but to get treatment from qualified staff and if such personnel are not available then there is no need for such buildings".

Dr Wereko-Brobbey said school buildings without enough teachers are meaningless and said, a UGM government would address these problems because they adversely affect the people's well being.

He stressed the need to pay doctors and teachers satisfactorily to enable them stay at post instead of abandoning their jobs to look for greener pastures in other countries.

According to Dr Wereko-Brobbey, while University education cannot be absolutely free, those who qualify to enter the University should be given adequate loans and students who agree to work in the rural areas after their course should forgo the refund.

He said because those in authority have sent their children to University outside the country, they care less about what happens in the local Universities.

"If a person has been in power for 20 years and has not been able to improve your standard of living and you still rely on him for help, does it not sound ridiculous?", Dr Wereko-Brobbey asked.

He said at the appropriate time, the UGM would present a manifesto that spells out what would be done with every sector of the society.