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EPA will hinder African countries
progress - leaders told
Tema, July 25, Ghanadot/GNA - Three non governmental
organisations (NGO) in Tema on Wednesday, urged African
governments not to bow to pressures from the European Union
(EU) to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) as it
has the potential to hinder progress of African countries.
The EPA, which is to be signed in December this year, would
allow free trade with the EU.
Opposing the agreement at a press conference held in Tema,
Mr Kwabena Okai Ofosuhene, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
the Abibimann Foundation, urged African leaders to subject
the matter to public debate to seek views of the masses
before giving it the green light.
Speaking on behalf of the African Youth Coalition, the Ghana
Trade and Livelihood and the Abibimann Foundation, he was of
the view that this could lead to major shortfall on
governments’ revenue since tariffs on EU goods would be
waived.
According to him, while the move would lead to the collapse
of industries because they would not be able to withstand
competition from the EU, poverty level would rise, due to
workers’ redundancy.
The EPA, he said, would also hinder the much anticipated
government and regional integration, aggravate regional
segmentation and erode economic gains made by countries.
Mr Ofosuhene impressed on West African states to consider
the disadvantages in the EPA agreement and take keen
interest in its negotiations before agreeing to it in order
to save the citizenry as it would mean selling out our
sovereignty.
The CEO underscored the need for the Ghana government and
other governments to openly declare their stand on the EPA
and allow the public to express their views so that when
passed or not would be the concerns of all to avoid
confusion.
He advised African leaders to emulate the governments of
Nigerian and Cape Verde whose leaders had objected to the
EPA to ensure a formidable stand.
This would be in line with the Cotonou Agreement, which
states that the EPAs shall be negotiated during a five-year
preparatory period starting September 2002 and concluding on
December 31, 2007.
He explained that their concerns have heightened because of
the result of the outcome of the just ended ECOWAS
Ministerial Monitoring Committee on the EPA in Accra “which
became obvious that our leaders are looking forward to
signing the EPAs to satisfy the quest of the EU come
December 31, 2007”.
GNA
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