EPAs could cost Ghana US$5b, 43k jobs – CPP warns

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DJ. DAABODAABO 11 years ago

YOU ALONE CAN LOOSE ANY FIGHT, TOGETHER WE WIN. ONCE WE ALL LEARNT OUR MISTAKES, IT"S THE TIME WE WAKE UP TO FIGHT THIS FIGHT. NDC IS A ILLFATE CAMP TO WRECK THE PROGRESS OF GHANA. IT"S NOT TOO LATE WE ACT!!!11

YOU ALONE CAN LOOSE ANY FIGHT, TOGETHER WE WIN. ONCE WE ALL LEARNT OUR MISTAKES, IT"S THE TIME WE WAKE UP TO FIGHT THIS FIGHT. NDC IS A ILLFATE CAMP TO WRECK THE PROGRESS OF GHANA. IT"S NOT TOO LATE WE ACT!!!11
SARPONG 11 years ago

Feature Article of Friday, 25 April 2014

Columnist: Sarpong, Justice

The EPA Is A Mirage, It Should Not Be Ratified

I was watching the news a few weeks ago and a section came up reporting the protestation of the Ta ...
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Feature Article of Friday, 25 April 2014

Columnist: Sarpong, Justice

The EPA Is A Mirage, It Should Not Be Ratified

I was watching the news a few weeks ago and a section came up reporting the protestation of the Taiwanese business community against a trade agreement with China. The trade pact laid out a deal to open 80 Chinese service sectors to Taiwan and, in reciprocity, 64 of Taiwan's sectors to China. The business communities in Taiwan feared that China's supreme economic advantage will eventually overwhelm and destroy the Taiwanese businesses. They also feared that the pact will create unemployment in the communities where these businesses were situated. More information is provided in the The Guardian on March 30, 2014 (More than 100,000 protesters rally in Taiwan against trade pact with China -- Protesters say deal was rushed through and could leave Taiwan beholden to China's Communist party leaders). See links below:

A perspective here is warranted. This is similar to an agreement between Ghana and Nigeria allowing citizens from both countries unfettered access to owning banking and lending institutions in each other's country. There are quite a few Nigerian banks in Ghana; this limited influx has elicited uneasiness (and fear in some cases) about the marginalization of Ghanaian banks.

If this scenario is hard to consume by the people in the know, then let's look at what the EPA spells out. The main principles in the EPA, a murf from the CPA, are reciprocity, differentiation, deeper regional integration, and coordination of trade and aid.

Reciprocity -- For the supporters of the EPA, please let the government explain reciprocity and how that would benefit West Africa.

Differentiation -- This again, please let those who support it explain. The president of Ghana says "African leaders must own their economic destiny." I am not sure the president can advocate for the EPA and still make this proclamation.

Deeper regional integration -- Until the 1979 and 1981 Rawlings' coups, Ecowas had implemented the 90-day unrestricted travel within member countries, and moving toward a common currency for member countries. The Francophone countries were against these Ecowas agreements, because France already had unrestricted access to those countries and did not want any interference from other European countries. France also knew that the competition from Ecowas countries would not threaten their hold of the Francophone markets, but a common Ecowas market would open competition into the Francophone markets from other western countries. Bear in mind that during this 1975 period, EEC, as the EU was then called, did not have even a quarter of the structures Ecowas as a body had established. 1979 and 1980 was mentioned, because these are the periods that started the disintegration of Ecowas; this fragile body dependent on land freight was destroyed as a result of the years of closure of Ghana's borders to any significant trade.

Coordination of trade and aid -- Since there is no trade from Ecowas to Europe, there is very little benefit to Ecowas to discuss. Concerning the aid part, the US$6.5 billion promised to the Ecowas countries to help prop up their economies over a five-year period is less than what Anglo-Ashanti Gold makes in a year. Divided amongst the 16 Ecowas countries, this translates to less than US$82 million per year per country. For Ghana, the fluff included in the Ridge Hospital renovation and expansion should be able to cover the proposed aid for about two years.

The stance put up by the Mr. Olusegun Aganga, the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, explains it better in the Premium Times article in the link below.

The bottom-line is that the EPA agreement is not in the slightest of reasoning beneficial to the west African countries. Not only will it not be beneficial to the Ecowas members, it will destroy the economy and social fabric of the member countries. For the EPA advocates, please find out how much Bulgaria has benefited from the EU; they are right there in Europe. For people like Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State in charge of Public-Private Partnership, and Mr. Haruna Idrissu, minister of trade, what happens when the Truffula trees are gone and there is no market for Thneeds? We know you cannot say "No" to this EPA, if the word were written in front of you, but you can devise other means to get out of it. Tag along the grievances submitted by Nigeria. this is an economic enslavement of Ghana and West Africa as a whole.

SERVICE TO MY NATION, GHANA

Justice Sarpong

(CARDINAL of TRUTH)
readi 2 dye 11 years ago

What happened to other party leaders can't they even state thier opinion....

What happened to other party leaders can't they even state thier opinion....
Kojo T 11 years ago

NPP signedit alraedy. Do not forget NPP track record when they closed the local factories and would give Special Unnumbered Licence called SUL to even import turkey tail

NPP signedit alraedy. Do not forget NPP track record when they closed the local factories and would give Special Unnumbered Licence called SUL to even import turkey tail
KWAKU 11 years ago

This is a good chance for the CPP and PPP to start making inroads into the political landscape again. They should punish all the MPs who support the EPA at the polls, and there are plenty of them. This is what they need to ...
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This is a good chance for the CPP and PPP to start making inroads into the political landscape again. They should punish all the MPs who support the EPA at the polls, and there are plenty of them. This is what they need to do. Tell the electorate that the country is being sold to the Europeans for next to nothing and that almost all the local industries are going to be destroyed as a result. There are plenty of industries to hammer the NPP and NDC MPs on. Show how lazy the government has been for not seeking other markets for Ghana's products.

Go to the universities and other campuses and start demonstrating to bring out your points. Demonstrate everyday until you get the needed attention; by then you would have won some people to your side. The NPP and NDC cannot say no to the EPA, because they have been compromised. This is a great opportunity for the CPP and PPP.
ELINAM 11 years ago

How come Kwame Nkrumah was able to organize workers and so-called veranda boys in the 1950s and here we can not do so in 2014?

How come Kwame Nkrumah was able to organize workers and so-called veranda boys in the 1950s and here we can not do so in 2014?
CARDINAL 11 years ago

You are an idiot. Trokosi Rawlings was importing turkey tails before Npp came to power and now Mahama's wife, LORDINA is the sole distributor of turkey tails in Ghana.

You are an idiot. Trokosi Rawlings was importing turkey tails before Npp came to power and now Mahama's wife, LORDINA is the sole distributor of turkey tails in Ghana.
STOP AND THINK 11 years ago

FIND SOME OF YOUR RADICAL DOCTORS, AND PROFESSORS TO LEAD AND DRAW YOUTH AND OTHERS TO THE PARTY.

FIND SOME OF YOUR RADICAL DOCTORS, AND PROFESSORS TO LEAD AND DRAW YOUTH AND OTHERS TO THE PARTY.
ELINAM 11 years ago

Sad we think somebody with degree is only good enough to rule Ghana and not a man with wisdom (EFIE NYANSA).
Good leaders will always elude Ghana based on the way we see things.

Sad we think somebody with degree is only good enough to rule Ghana and not a man with wisdom (EFIE NYANSA).
Good leaders will always elude Ghana based on the way we see things.
The Mask 11 years ago

Any agreement which would tie the hands of successive governments must be discussed at length by the potential successive leaders.

It must be sent to parliament house and the school of Economics of the University of Ghana ...
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Any agreement which would tie the hands of successive governments must be discussed at length by the potential successive leaders.

It must be sent to parliament house and the school of Economics of the University of Ghana for further deliberation. The MPs (representatives) must consult their constituents.

I have no doubt in my mind of the fruitlessness of this agreement. Europeans are not altruistic. As Americans say pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. They are seeking their welfare first. A fact which must not be lost on us.

We have to think for ourselves. We must not play second fiddle to any economic bloc. The neocolonialists would not have their way.

There is a more elegant solution awaiting the prudent seeker.

ELINAM 11 years ago

Why the main opposition party is silence when we needed them most?

Why the main opposition party is silence when we needed them most?
john 11 years ago

How did you arrive at this figure? Where is the short term forecast? Or CPP is just trying to make itself a relevant party again? Please stop this fear mongering and vodooo forecast

How did you arrive at this figure? Where is the short term forecast? Or CPP is just trying to make itself a relevant party again? Please stop this fear mongering and vodooo forecast
Kokomba 11 years ago

You nation is about to go back to the days of perpetual economic dependence and slavery and here you are worrying about figures.The man gave you a range,if it is too much for your understanding please keep quiet and let us fi ...
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You nation is about to go back to the days of perpetual economic dependence and slavery and here you are worrying about figures.The man gave you a range,if it is too much for your understanding please keep quiet and let us fight these ndc people working for the europeans.
Akua Nanpomaa 11 years ago

I pray that God will now give Ghana CPP Govt again. NDC will sell us and as for NPP we don't hear anything from them. CPP will save Ghana

I pray that God will now give Ghana CPP Govt again. NDC will sell us and as for NPP we don't hear anything from them. CPP will save Ghana
USMAN 11 years ago

The mere fact that the Nigerians were able to assemble their best brains to assess the negative impact of the EPA in both qualitative and quantitative terms and Ghana was not able to do same shows how useless our university g ...
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The mere fact that the Nigerians were able to assemble their best brains to assess the negative impact of the EPA in both qualitative and quantitative terms and Ghana was not able to do same shows how useless our university graduates are.
Rebirth 11 years ago

I have absolutely nothing to lose.
I've tried the usual thieves and European agents in ndc and npp and the results show for its self.
if CPP doesn't perform,I can always vote elsewhere in 4 years.
Npp and Ndc have destroye ...
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I have absolutely nothing to lose.
I've tried the usual thieves and European agents in ndc and npp and the results show for its self.
if CPP doesn't perform,I can always vote elsewhere in 4 years.
Npp and Ndc have destroyed everything CPP built.
Very soon we shall have the apartheid atmosphere in Ghana whereby we ate the owners of the land but europeans and americans own everything.
We need a party that BELIEVES in its voters and not foreigners.
I shall personally educate those around me to wake up!
Ericus-Ericus 11 years ago

Either NDC is a wicked government OR simply incompetent.

Either NDC is a wicked government OR simply incompetent.
GoatEater 11 years ago

The day this EPA is signed is the day we should start crying for the future of our country and its sovereignty. Its not a matter of NDC, NPP, CPP, etc... It is a matter of handing over our economic destiny to Europe. Those wh ...
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The day this EPA is signed is the day we should start crying for the future of our country and its sovereignty. Its not a matter of NDC, NPP, CPP, etc... It is a matter of handing over our economic destiny to Europe. Those who do not learn from history, are bound to repeat their mistakes.
samson 11 years ago

What negativity is this? Why such one sided stand? What about the benefits to Ghana in signing. Why not use the same method you used to arrive at your $5 billion loss to work out how much benefit Ghana will gain by signing to ...
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What negativity is this? Why such one sided stand? What about the benefits to Ghana in signing. Why not use the same method you used to arrive at your $5 billion loss to work out how much benefit Ghana will gain by signing to the EPA? You have not made your case any credibility by not stating the gains, even if they are less than the loss to Ghana. That way Ghanaians will be able to make an assessment. The EPA will give Ghanaian industries the opportunity to work hard and become efficient and profitable. Why limit your industries to producing low quality goods for the so called Ecowas market when you can aspire to produce quality goods to sell to the EU at competitive prices because you will pay no duties? Think again. You see the CPP had in the past established industries that produced low quality goods and there was no incentive to aspire to making high quality goods profitably and that is why the industries all failed eventually. Dont tell me that they were sold by the subsequent governments, because no one would have sold them if they were being run profitably. The VRA which is state owned is still going because it was and is still being run well.
Godiva 11 years ago

Your Delilah in this case is the eu.
All your assertions are totally wrong.
I don't even know where to start from to correct you.
Stop peddling lies if you don't have facts wai.

Your Delilah in this case is the eu.
All your assertions are totally wrong.
I don't even know where to start from to correct you.
Stop peddling lies if you don't have facts wai.

Samson 11 years ago

If you have no useful comments then don't take part in the discussion. Make a sensible contribution and do not insult.

If you have no useful comments then don't take part in the discussion. Make a sensible contribution and do not insult.
readi 2 dye 11 years ago

We not the only ones who will exporting to European market. Chinese,veitnamese,taiwanese,India,Pakistan,Afghanistan...now ask ur self what machines do we have,that will enable us produce quality products to compete with the c ...
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We not the only ones who will exporting to European market. Chinese,veitnamese,taiwanese,India,Pakistan,Afghanistan...now ask ur self what machines do we have,that will enable us produce quality products to compete with the countries above. Okay, the only thing left is non trading exports (NTE'S) which only purchased by west Africans...Africans in Europe always find ways to get NTE 's anyway. So what are we gaining...on their side they export all these machine made products for free, sell it to us. Note that the Europeans won't purchase any of our exports, it's our own people who are buying...meanwhile because we now have good European products here...there wouldn't be any incentives to produce therefore we become consumers...this whole plan was hatched on 1st may 1776... Now we look like the foolish man who built his house on the sand.and there goes another dumb experiment by DON mahama Quixote
eugene 11 years ago

has China or India signed EPA???? How many goods are made in China now in Ghana or USA? 95% anything that be made, China can reverse engineer(take your product apart then build their way)..China now has biggest economy now an ...
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has China or India signed EPA???? How many goods are made in China now in Ghana or USA? 95% anything that be made, China can reverse engineer(take your product apart then build their way)..China now has biggest economy now and have they sign the EPA???
Kingsley 11 years ago

White men never deal to lose so Ghana must beware . The hardship in Ghana is twice as much in Europe , and these Europeans thinking and dealing in their own interest to creat job and economic security for their nationals but ...
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White men never deal to lose so Ghana must beware . The hardship in Ghana is twice as much in Europe , and these Europeans thinking and dealing in their own interest to creat job and economic security for their nationals but not poor African blacks .
Kwawu Agbemenu 11 years ago

The problem with many of our leaders is that they feel Ghana's problems can be solved by foreign 'gifts', foreign institutions, e.g. IMF, World Bank. They have failed to realise that countries, like people, move forward only ...
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The problem with many of our leaders is that they feel Ghana's problems can be solved by foreign 'gifts', foreign institutions, e.g. IMF, World Bank. They have failed to realise that countries, like people, move forward only by honest, hard work, nothing else!!
Antiochus - London 11 years ago

The agreement has been signed by this incompetent govt already.

The agreement has been signed by this incompetent govt already.
KOJO,US 11 years ago

GHANA NEEDS THE MIGHTY HANDS OF GOD TO GET SELFLESS LEADERS AND PEOPLE WITH VISION. THESE LEADERS DON'T CARE.

GHANA NEEDS THE MIGHTY HANDS OF GOD TO GET SELFLESS LEADERS AND PEOPLE WITH VISION. THESE LEADERS DON'T CARE.
Samson 11 years ago

Anybody gets up and cooks up figures to fool the public. Nii Akomfra I always thought you were above this. How can you sink so low?

Anybody gets up and cooks up figures to fool the public. Nii Akomfra I always thought you were above this. How can you sink so low?
Musa 11 years ago

ISTUPIDITY think the CPP guy has done a good presentation backed with facts and figures. He quoted the amount the Mnistry of trade saids Ghana will be losing and also quoted the amount an independent global body is stating. ...
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ISTUPIDITY think the CPP guy has done a good presentation backed with facts and figures. He quoted the amount the Mnistry of trade saids Ghana will be losing and also quoted the amount an independent global body is stating. Now when you put the two on board to analyse, he is extrapolating to show you the net effect in 14 years granted that you were using the ministry's figure or the independent body's. This is what Nigeria did and they realized they will be losing over $5b. Don't be simplistic over such a critical issue and attack a sensible analysis done.in the past, Ghana was enslaved for gun powder and alcoholic drinks from the whites. Now we make akpeteshie in abundance and have liberty, we are giving away everything we have in the name of PPP and other stuffs like that. We are like irresponsible parents who are refusing to think. Because of hardships, we are giving our wives to be married to other men because they are rich. We are giving our sons to armed robery gangs so we can shirk our responsibilities and giving our daughters in to early marriages and prostitution so they can fend for themselves. WE ARE REFUSING TO THINK AND HAVE BECOME SO IRRESPONSIBLE. God help us to know that no one can develop Ghana better than we ourselves. It is time for ECOWAS to stand together and say NO to such slavery mentality and trappings. We can make it. There is no easy way to success.
eugene 11 years ago

and ndc member we can see that already that you feel the ndc (nation demolition crew) can do no wrong

and ndc member we can see that already that you feel the ndc (nation demolition crew) can do no wrong

Alex Kojo Sammy-Paris!. 11 years ago

NDC is down, only hope they have is C/ R nd its finished afiinso mesu maho'n nd mark it on the wall nd.....Amen in Jesus's name! ae nnsu renka,Ogyamanase yi speaking nd....Amen!..

NDC is down, only hope they have is C/ R nd its finished afiinso mesu maho'n nd mark it on the wall nd.....Amen in Jesus's name! ae nnsu renka,Ogyamanase yi speaking nd....Amen!..
opayin fianko 11 years ago

signing EPA agreement means African are second fiddle to Europeans for Ghana it means we are lazy and that we don't know our value

signing EPA agreement means African are second fiddle to Europeans for Ghana it means we are lazy and that we don't know our value
kk US 11 years ago

SLAVERY

SLAVERY
odei 11 years ago

Please mother Ghana, don't trust these people for anything, they are not thinking about you, all they care is how to steal from Africa, this is NEOCOLONIALISM at it's best. Where are the thinking technocrats in Ghana? oh my b ...
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Please mother Ghana, don't trust these people for anything, they are not thinking about you, all they care is how to steal from Africa, this is NEOCOLONIALISM at it's best. Where are the thinking technocrats in Ghana? oh my beloved Ghana why?????
eugene 11 years ago

i will make you homeless and jobless

i will make you homeless and jobless
TEE 11 years ago

GOOD JOB CPP

GOOD JOB CPP
TEE 11 years ago

PEPENI INCOMPETENT

PEPENI INCOMPETENT

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EPAs could cost Ghana US$5b, 43k jobs – CPP warns

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