Regional Conference to Be Held in Ghana

Ghana would host a European Union (EU) - West African Regional Ministerial meeting on Thursday April 24, a statement by the Trade and Industry Ministry said in Accra on yesterday.

The conference aims at deepening the process of establishing a unified regional market for the purpose of eradicating poverty and smooth integration of the region into the global economy.

It would involve Ministers of Trade and Finance and EU Commissioners for Trade, as well as National Authorising Officers of the European Development Fund (EDF), the ECOWAS Secretariat and the UEMOA Commission.

The conference is in furtherance of the decision of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to negotiate a Regional Economic Partnership Agreement between West Africa and EU as stipulated under the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement.

It would deliberate on key issues including objectives, achievements, and preparations for the second phase of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations; development finance in the West Africa plan of action and negotiations of the Doha Development Round and its relations with ACP-EU Economics Partnership Agreement.

It would also negotiate a regional EPA between West Africa and The EU as stipulated under the ACP-EU Cotonou Agreement.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and President's Initiatives; Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Minister for Regional Co-operation and NEPAD would represent Ghana, the statement said.