WABNET is committed to regional capacity building

Accra, Aug. 11, GNA - The West African Business Network (WABNET) on Monday advocated a regional capacity building and networking to support women's efforts to overcome barriers to business development and regional trade.

WABNET, a non-governmental organization that promotes integration of businesses in the Sub-Region, also stressed the need for governments to address the barriers of trade that included problems in communications, transport and customs procedures.

Mrs Comfort Ocran, Publicity Officer of WABNET, commenting on the outcome of the Executive Committee and National Coordinators' Workshop, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Business Desk in Accra that the Network was keen on developing these linkages in order to overcome the unbearable barriers to regional trade.

"This was the focus of the recent workshop we held in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, where we sought to develop a Strategic Development Plan for the 15 members of the Economic Community of west African States (ECOWAS).

She said the workshop was also to reinforce regional partnerships with governmental and non-governmental agencies.

She said that a meeting was held with Mr Drammane Coulibaly, Executive Secretary of the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought in the Sahel.

At this meeting Mrs Ocran said, WABNET highlighted issues concerning food security and the important role Ghana plays in the supply of food for the landlocked countries.

WABNET was formed in Bamako, Mali in August 2001. Ms Esinam Akywe-Djamson, First Vice-President of WABNET, and Mrs Yvonne Laryea, National Coordinator of WABNET, Ghana attended the workshop.