Govt participating in WTO to maximise benefits - Asiedu

Accra, April 29, GNA - Government is participating fully in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to maximize benefits and reduce the social cost of trade reforms in the agricultural and industrial sectors, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Deputy Minister of Trade said on Thursday. Opening a two-day workshop for Journalists on Economic Partnership Agreements, Mr Asiedu said it was important for the country to be part of the multilateral trade negotiations because it was through such a forum that various intractable problems affecting trade in general were being addressed.
Mr Asiedu said supply-side constraints had so far prevented Ghana from enjoying the full advantage of membership of the WTO and other trade-related organisations.
The workshop was organised by the Ghana Journalists Association and the Institute of Economic and Financial Journalists in collaboration with OXFAM, a British nongovernmental organisation and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and President's Special Initiatives.
He called for the development of a competitive export supply capacity, especially those that related to the provision of credit facilities for exporters.
Mr Asiedu said the search for market access for the country's products should not be limited to European markets alone but the huge potential of the West Africa Sub-Regional market should also be tapped.
"We shall do everything possible to continue to push for programmes, activities and plans that are geared towards the promotion of integration," he said.
Mr Bright Blewu, General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, said the workshop was important because it provided more insight for Journalists into issues of trade and that would enhance their articles.