In the build-up to the 2024 elections, Ghanaian presidential hopeful Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), shared his vision for the nation with a focus on self-reliance, domestication, and revitalizing the Ghanaian agricultural sector.
Dr. Lartey highlighted the critical importance of making Ghana self-sufficient, addressing the role of farming and local production in turning the country’s economy around.
Dr. Lartey expressed confidence in Ghana’s democratic process as the nation gears up for the 2024 election.
“The Electoral Commission has got its ways of doing the checks and balances to make sure that everything goes smoothly, so from where I’m sitting, I think it’s pretty good.”
Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)
His belief in the integrity of the EC was central to his optimism for the election period.
Reflecting on his journey into politics, Dr. Lartey acknowledged that his ambition to lead the nation has been a long-standing one, rooted in his upbringing and the political legacy of his father, the late Daniel Lartey a notable political figure in Ghana. “I’ve been in this political era for a very, long time since I was his age,” he said, emphasizing the influence his father had on his political ambitions.
Dr. Lartey also detailed his vast international experience, highlighting his qualifications as an international financial consultant and global merchandiser.
The Vision of Domestication
At the heart of Dr. Lartey’s vision is his party’s long-standing domestication policy, which he aims to expand and solidify in improving Ghana’s economy.
He passionately advocated for growing what we eat and eating what we grow, insisting that reliance on imports weakens Ghana’s economy and stifles its growth potential.
“If we can’t rely on ourselves, we can’t feed ourselves, we can’t buy from our industries and the products that we produce, then we are in trouble.”
Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)
He cited the example of his father’s leadership in the 1970s when Ghana successfully exported maize.
“Operation Feed Yourself” program which leads us to domestication and that’s why [his father started using the word domestication] and not many people understood it, they thought it was just something that he was saying, this is a man who was dining it and tested It was the first time in those times in the seventies that Ghana exported maize. Can you believe it? And since then, we’ve done nothing. And since my father left the government at the time nothing happened.’’
Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)
He emphasized that his administration would reignite this spirit of self-sufficiency to tackle the economic challenges Ghana faces today.
The Role of Youth in Economic Transformation
A key pillar of Dr. Lartey’s strategy is his focus on engaging the youth to drive economic transformation through agriculture.
He acknowledged the neglect of the youth in Ghana over the years and vowed to reverse this trend. “The best way to start employment is to do it through farming,” he declared, pointing out that farming is a sustainable way to create jobs and stimulate economic activity.
He emphasized the importance of youth involvement in agriculture, proposing that every three months, there would be produce ready for consumption and export. His administration would ensure that the government purchases excess produce from farmers, which would then be exported to generate foreign currency. He reiterated; “If we can’t feed ourselves, there’s no way we can solve our problems.”
“ We are going to encourage the peasant farmers because they are doing so well. Without them, we would even be buying more tomatoes from Burkina Faso and Onion all over the place but these peasant farmers are working so hard and I think we would follow how they farm because they are traditional farmers.”
Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)
Dr. Lartey proposed practical solutions to fix gaps in existing agricultural initiatives. He pledged to encourage traditional farming methods and integrate the youth into the agricultural value chain by providing them with the necessary financial and technical support. His government would work with international investors to help improve the Ghanaian economy.
“We’ve got finance behind us. We’ve got investors from the U.S. We’ve got investors from Poland. We’ve got investors from Ukraine who are coming into the country to help us.”
Dr. Daniel Augustus Lartey Jnr. Presidential Candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP)
Dr. Lartey outlined specific, actionable steps his administration would take within the first 100 days if elected. First, he would focus on engaging and supporting peasant farmers, whose hard work has kept Ghana from relying heavily on imports. He noted; “The peasant farmers have worked so hard, and I think that we will follow how they farm,”
He also planned to integrate unemployed youth into the agricultural sector by providing them with the necessary training, resources, and incentives to farm.
Partnerships for National Development
Dr. Lartey underscored the importance of international partnerships in driving national development. He revealed ongoing engagements with foreign investors through the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and other government bodies, stating that his government would bring in significant investments to bolster the farming sector. He noted; “I meet with the CEOs of GIPC and other stakeholders who have come into town to help us build our country.”
Dr. Lartey reiterated his commitment to making Ghana a self-reliant nation by focusing on agriculture and youth empowerment.
He believes that his domestication policy, coupled with international investments and strong leadership, will enable Ghana to achieve sustainable development and economic independence. “If we can’t feed ourselves, how can we then say that we’re going to develop?” he questioned, reinforcing his belief that self-sufficiency is the cornerstone of Ghana’s progress.
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