body-container-line-1
05.04.2014 Feature Article

Will Mahama (Ghana) Sign The EPA Agreement Because He Needs Loans From The EU?

Will Mahama Ghana Sign The EPA Agreement Because He Needs Loans From The EU?
05.04.2014 LISTEN

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have once again refused to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU)

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 44th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS Authority held in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire late last Saturday.

Some states, particularly Nigeria, had found issues with technical matters about the agreement, compelling the heads of state and government to shelve the signing of the deal.

In spite of the fact that the West African leaders had reaffirmed their strong commitment to the agreement and endorsed its conclusion in principle. The authority directed the chief negotiators to take steps to address the issues raised by Nigeria and other member states within two months before appending their signature to the EPA.

The authority has therefore directed the chief negotiators to establish a committee, including representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire, to look at these issues and present the

final outcome to the Heads of State and Government.

The EPA is a trade and development agreement negotiated between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries engaged in a regional economic integration process. It aims, among other things, at helping countries in regional and sub-regional blocs to integrate into the world economy and share in the opportunities offered by globalisation.

Addressing a news conference, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who was elected the new ECOWAS chairman, said though the leaders agreed in principle to the agreement, they needed to negotiate an agreement that would be beneficial to their People.

In Ghana and other West African countries, religious and farmer based groups have opposed the signing of the agreement by ECOWAS, saying it would worsen the economic problems of their countries.

However, the ECOWAS communique, which was read by ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, touched on regional economic performance and consolidation of the common market.

The heads of state stressed the need to step up economic growth to sustain employment and facilitate the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To sustain the good economic prospects in the region, the authority urges member states to pursue efforts deployed towards putting in place sound and stable macroeconomic Frameworks.

The authority renewed its commitment to ensure peace and security in the sub-region through good governance and Democracy.

Ministers of trade and negotiation experts of the ECOWAS in the year 2011, decided against acceding to what they termed "unreasonable" demands from the European Union over their EPAs. The decision reached at a meeting of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) on EPAs stalled further negotiations with the EU.

The MMC, therefore, urged the authority of the heads of state and governments of ECOWAS to take up the matter, taking into account the guidelines on divergences observed within the framework of the Special Summit of Heads of State on the EPAs.

Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire initialled interim EPAs with the EU in December 2007, with the latter going ahead to sign the agreements but Ghana is yet to sign.

The question is, why will (must) Ghana sign, if other ECOWAS members see no reason to sign.?

Is it because Mahama needs CASH from the EU?

FRANCIS TAWIAH (Duisburg - Germany)

body-container-line