Koforidua Sept. 08, GNA- Mr Kingsley Ofei Nkansah, General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has partly attributed the unemployment situation in the country to the Ghanaian desire for foreign goods.

"We prefer to buy imported rice, chicken and fabrics among others to the neglect of the local ones thereby generating employment in foreign lands".

Mr Nkansah who was addressing the Eastern Regional Delegates Conference of GAWU in Koforidua on Wednesday also blamed governments over the years for over liberalization of the economy.

He noted that foreign industries got heavy subsidy from their governments and were able to produce cheap and inferior goods and then dumped them on Ghanaians.

Mr Nkansah cited the case of local Textile industries which were gradually collapsing as a result of importation of cheap fabric.

He was also not happy about the situation where the importation of agro-chemicals was on the increase but the number of agricultural extension officers who would teach farmers on the proper application of the chemicals was on the decline.

"Those chemicals are dangerous and we need more extension officers to educate the farmers on their correct usage".

On next year's general elections, Mr Nkansah appealed to politicians to guard against hurling of insults at their political opponents so that there would be peace in the country before, during and after the elections.

Mr Stephen Nyame Yeboah, Eastern Regional Chairman of GAWU, appealed to members to address themselves seriously to some challenges which were affecting their numerical strength.

"Those forces challenging us are strong and they cannot be taken for granted", he noted.

Earlier on, Ms Stella Nanor was elected chairperson of the Women's Wing of the Regional GAWU, Ms Salomey Yeboah, vice-chairperson and Ms Mabel Adedeme as secretary for a four-year tenure.