Skip to main content

We are ready to sign EPA - Rashid Pelpuo

Government is ready to sign the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which critics say, will hand over the economic control of 16 West African states to the European Union (EU).
Minister of State in charge of Public Private Partnership Rashid Pelpuo says it will be too costly not to sign because the EPA is tied to 'aid, technical assistance, political assistance and trade'
The EPA has gone through serious negotiation process aimed at granting access to European and African markets. Discussions have travelled for 12 years. The European Union wants 100% tax free access on African markets but Ghana and some other West African countries are negotiating for between 60% to 75% access.
The agreement will involve reducing and removing import duties of European manufactured goods from roofing sheets to toilet rolls. Europe will also remove quotas, duties on African exports to the EU.
According to the EU the EPA is intended to "foster  African, Caribbean and Pacific [ ACP Countries] integration into the world economy, thereby promoting their sustainable development".
Two West African countries, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana,  initialled an interim EPA  with the EU at the end of 2007. The interim EPA with Côte d'Ivoire was signed on 26 November 2008.
But in an expected turn of events, the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) rallied by Nigeria, held off  the signing of the agreement last week, asking for time to resolve some 'technical' issues.
The decision was hailed by the media, anti-EPA Civil Society Organisations and some international relations experts as a refusal to bow to the European pressure.
But the celebrations are meant to be short-lived. Rashid Peluo has poured cold water on the jubilation.
Speaking on Joy FM and Multi TV's Newsfile, political analysis programme, on Saturday, the Minister of State argued that in the absence of a viable alternative, Ghana's economy stands little chance of boycotting the agreement.
'So who do you turn to when you need budgetary support or some technical assistance for ministries if we do not sign this agreement?', Pelpou questioned.
"We are ready to sign the EPA", he repeatedly assured.

Credit: Myjoyonline.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shortage of weighing cards hit major hospitals in Accra

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong- Daily Express There is scarcity of Child Health Records Book (weighing cards), in some major public hospitals in the capital, information reaching the Daily Express indicates. Checks by this paper revealed that while some of the hospitals have being encountering the shortage for about a year now, others started experiencing it six months ago. In place of the Child Health Record Book (weighing card), the nursing mothers are given a single card on which information of children are recorded on it. Those hospitals identified are the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Polyclinic, Kaneshie Polyclinic, Adabraka Polyclinic and the Ridge Hospital. At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the nursing mothers are given yellow cards in place of the weighing cards. The Public Relations Secretariat at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital said such information has not come to their notice and for that matter they cannot comment on it. “We do not have some ...
Post a Comment
Read more

ABL launches chibuku super in Bolgatanga

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong sarpong007@gmail.com Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) has officially launched the Chibuku Super drink at Bolgatanga in the Upper East region with the aim of reaching a lot of customers. Mr. Thomas Nii Ponku, Supervisor in charge of Chibuku Super at ABL told Daily Express that the management decided to launch the Chibuku Super drink in the Upper East region because they’ve realized it is similar to a traditional drink in the region. “Chibuku is like a well developed pito, a traditional drink made from fermented millet or sorghum in the Northern part of Ghana. So the idea is to provide them with similar drink,” he added. Mr. Nii Ponku disclosed this when members of the Institute of Finance and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) toured the facility of ABL to acquaint themselves with the expansion project at the factory. He mentioned that after a feasibility study, they realized there is a potential market for the product in the northern part of Ghana ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Barbering Salons, bridging the unemployment gap in Ghana

By: Fred Yaw Sarpong Barbering business in Ghana is money making venture, depending on the location of the shop. Various barbering shops scattered across the country charges according to the location of the shop. The nature and sustainability of every barbering shop depends on the location of the shop. The location will determine how much one can charge a customer for barbering his or her hair. Checks indicate that some barbering shops located at Spintex, East Legon and Osu Oxford street charges between GHc15.00 and GHc20.00 per hair cut. At South La Estate, it will cost a customer to pay GHc4.00 for hair cut, while one will have to pay GHc3.00 to barber his or her hair at a place like Nima, Maamobi and Mallam Gbawe. Royal Vulture Executive Barbering Salon is one of the biggest barbering salons one can locate within Accra. One is its shops is located at Madina, near Taxi rank while one is located at Accra New Town, near the Post Office. Customers at Madina pay GHc7.00 ...
7 comments
Read more