Forum to develop EPA Implementation strategy to be held in Accra

The Ministry of Trade and Industry will host a final validation forum on the draft Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Accompanying Measure Strategy (EPA-AMS) in Accra.

The forum which is expected to take place at M Plaza Hotel on Wednesday will provide the opportunity for private sector stakeholders to have insight into the EPA-AMS and contribute to the final document.

The EPA-AMS has been designed to enable Ghana take full advantage of the EPA and reduce its negative impact by combining trade liberalization with sustainable development.

Mr. Anthony Nyame-Baafi, Director for Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade at the MOTI said the Ministry is “seeking to build consensus among private sector stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the EPA and to position the private sector to take maximum advantage of the agreement”.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, and the Head of EU delegation to Ghana, H.E. William Hanna, will address the forum.

Private sector institutions and civil society organizations such as Third World Network (TWN), General Agricultural Workers Union, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and Private Enterprise Federation are expected to attend the forum.

EU is Ghana’s most valuable trading partner.  In 2013, the total trade value between Ghana and the EU amounted to 11.2 billion Euros.