MP wants briefing on EPA deal

Page 17, Dec 17, 2007
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE Member of Parliament for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, has called on the Minister of Trade, Industry, PSD and PSI, to appear before the House to brief members on the recent interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) the government signed with the European Union (EU).
He said the House needed proper briefing to enable it take a proper decision to avert the influx of all sorts of goods into the Ghanaian market which would eventually kill local initiatives.
Mr Yieleh Chireh was contributing to a statement made by the MP for Kumawu, Mr Yaw Baah on EPAs and issues arising from them on the floor of the House.
In his statements, Mr Baah contended that Ghana had no option rather than signing the interim EPA with EU.
He explained that in view of recent developments where La Cote D’Ivoire and some eastern and southern African countries had signed an interim agreement with the EU, it made any entrenched position by Ghana a very difficult option.
“Mr Speaker, it may be important to stress to our European counterparts that development is at the core of the Cotonou Agreement and EPA, and should not be artificially delinked from trade issues by being negotiated at different stages”.
He noted that specific commitments were required by the European Commission, particularly in respect of EPA support measures and programmes, adjustment cost and their various sources of fund.
Mr Baah, therefore, called on the EC to honour commitments made with the ACP countries and ensure that those countries did not sign EPAs that were provided with new framework to trade.
Meanwhile, the House has approved GH¢564,473,148 million for the operation of the Ministry of Energy for 2008.
It also gave approval of GH¢47M941,603 for the operation of the Ministry of Information and National Orientation for 2008.