The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin says the European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is a good deal for Ghana.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that although some groups and individuals are strongly opposed to the agreement in Ghana, it will have enormous benefits if the country signs onto it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know not everyone is in favour of it in Ghana, but actually if you look at it, we think it\u2019s a good deal for Ghana and it\u2019s what we want for Ghana,\u201d said Jon Benjamin.<\/p>\n
The government of Ghana and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has faced stiff opposition from some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Labour Unions and sections of the general public over the signing onto the EPA.<\/p>\n
Organisations opposed to the EPA have expressed fears that the agreement will lead to the collapse of the domestic manufacturing and other productive sectors of the economy due to undue pressure from the subsidized goods from Europe.<\/p>\n
They are of the opinion that the cumulative effect of all EPA will be to take away ability of West African governments to deploy the range of policy instruments that are critically needed for development in sub-region.<\/p>\n
But the ECOWAS heads of state at the 45th ordinary session\u00a0approved the EPA with the EU and subsequently instructed the West African chief negotiator to take appropriate steps to begin the process of signing and implementing the agreement.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show<\/strong> on Wednesday, the UK Ambassador to Ghana explained that the agreement will be highly beneficial because \u201c100% of Ghana\u2019s exports to the European Union are thereby free of any import duties\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He noted that the EPA will be accompanied by other developmental assistance programmes which are \u201cdesigned to help Ghana adapt to that agreement over a period of 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Benjamin indicated that the EPA can be reviewed by the government of Ghana if it \u201cfeels that it is not working out as well as they wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n He clarified that imports and exports are not \u201cpolitical favours but it\u2019s a market place\u201d adding that \u201cif the goods and services of a particular country are competitive, they will succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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