TWN discusses challenges of service liberalisation

Accra, July 18, GNA - Mr Yao Graham, Coordinator of Third World Network (TWN) Africa, on Tuesday said governments in developing countries, especially Africa, must critically examine the issue of services liberalisation since it had a tremendous effect on every sector of the economy.

He said the liberalisation of services, of which about 80 per cent were foreign generated, affected the domestic counterparts which in turn negatively affected their performance and living standards. Mr Graham was addressing the opening session of a four-day meeting of civil society groups from 20 countries to deliberate on issues concerning the challenge of services liberalisation, gender, trade and development.

Recommendations of the meeting would be forwarded to decision makers for consideration and adoption.

Mr Graham said there was the need for government to dialogue with civil society organisations to agree on a common framework of action on services liberalisation.

"Most of the time, governments pay no attention to local businesses when taking decisions that affect them and the economy as a whole," he noted.

Mr Graham said agriculture, industry and services formed the core sectors of the economy and a strategic plan was needed through debates and understanding of issues to come up with good decisions. "For example water privatisation and its impact on gender cannot be over-emphasised," he said, adding that service liberalisation affected jobs and the daily lives of women.

He called on the media to offer analysis of the law governing the provision of services and generate debate that would enhance major transformations of the service sector.