News:
April 1, 2014
The Member of Parliament for Keta, Richard Quashigah has expressed some misgivings about the Economic Partnership Agreement that has been deferred for the next two to three months.
Mr. Quashigah said he is personally skeptical about the EPA considering the fact that Ghana and the rest of the African countries have a lot of work to do to be able to compete effectively with goods from Europe, America and even Asian countries.
The Keta MP also indicated that Ghana and the rest of Africa are better off creating enabling environment to improve trade among member countries to increase industrial activities, adding that the EPA will only worsen the already difficult economic situations most African countries are faced with.
Mr. Quashigah who was contributing on AM: Talk show on Multi TV Tuesday morning said the volume of trade among African countries is not yet at any appreciable level and subjecting themselves to the EPA will forever make Africa importers and not exporters.
His submission was supported by Mr. Frederick Opare Ansah, Member of Parliament for Suhum and a member of the ECOWAS Parliament who was also on the show when he called for review of issues raised by some African countries about some sections of the EPA document.
Commenting on the election of President Dramani Mahama as the ECOWAS Chairman, Mr. Quashigah was confident the President will be able to perform well in that position.
He also downplayed suggestions that because Ghana is faced with some domestic challenges the president’s new position will not allow him to focus on the peculiar needs of the country. According to him, the president is surrounded by competent people who will help him deliver on the tasks ahead both domestically and internationally.
He said it a plus for Ghana to be given the lead role as ECOWAS Chairman and called for support for the president to deliver.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh