Ensure economic convergence - Mills

Accra, June 21, GNA -

Vice-President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday urged the World Bank to ensure that globalisation brings about economic convergence instead of divergence.

He also stressed that since the globalisation process has come to stay, it is important that all stakeholders, especially developing countries, benefit accordingly.

Vice-President Mills made these remarks at the formal launch of the GIMPA Distance Learning Centre (DLC) under the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) in Accra, where he was hooked onto a world-wide discussion with World Bank President James Wolfenson and representatives from 13 other countries.

The Centre has a fourth generation high technology facility with the capacity to send and receive pictures simultaneously. It has video conference equipment and a full range of distance learning facilities.

The centre also runs on a satellite dish with a speed of 256 kilobytes per second. Professor Mills, who spoke on "Globalisation and Its Effects on Poverty", said globalisation has not been favourable, especially to many developing states, "as some genuinely believe that the new economic order adversely affects us".

"Hence, we think that a level playing field is not only required in the area of governance and government but also in trade and other economic activities."

Prof. Mills outlined the current trade pattern on the continent and said globalisation had not helped yet as most people seem to have developed new tastes for foreign products, a trend, which, he said, is putting undue stress on national economies.

"Globalisation is affecting taste patterns and compounding an environment where we do not have the facilities and resources for those tastes," Prof. Mills added. He repeated the call for adequate financial support and capacity for developing nations alongside demands for accountability, transparency, and good governance.

Prof. Mills also cautioned developing countries to be circumspect in their dealings with issues concerning development to increase development standards on the continent. He said Africa and Ghana, in particular, is not asking for alms or give-aways, but trade and partnerships.

Prof. Mills asked the authorities at the Centre to ensure that the new facility is used to bring new knowledge to the nation as well as sell indigenous knowledge to the outside world.

"For us to become full participants in the opportunities and challenges of the global economy and the fashioning of a peaceful, just and prosperous world, our training regime must take advantage of the latest developments in information technology to enhance our knowledge base."

Prof. Mills asked the private sector to also take advantage of the facilities at the Centre, saying that it will enable them to have virtual interactions with private commercial and industrial enterprises in other countries and reach out to new markets.

Mr Steve Antwi, Director of DLC, said available facilities could train law enforcement officials to fight cross-border crimes using the Internet, a phenomenon, he said, would be rife as we continue to liberalise the economy and attract foreign investment.

He said the idea of establishing a post-graduate medical school could be attainable using the medium offered at the Centre. He urged professional group associations, business and industry operators, ministries, departments and agencies and NGOs to take advantage of the facilities and enjoy the value of added skill and technical acumen for their businesses.

Mr Antwi said the centre, which is on a three-year life-line of 1.6 million dollars from the World Bank, originators of the concept, is limited, especially on the domestic front, where it is unable to link up to any point in Ghana.

Global Development Learning Network, the base of the DLC, is part of a world-wide exchange of learning activities through courses, seminars and discussions on key development issues using interactive equipment to break down the digital divide.