Tarzan Writes: The only free cheese…

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NII 10 years ago

Good article, I hope all read, like I keep saying,' SIGN THE DANM EPA '

Good article, I hope all read, like I keep saying,' SIGN THE DANM EPA '
PK 10 years ago

I have a generally favourable view of free trade agreements under certain conditions. For example, all things being call, under a free trade agreement, which is what the EPA is, efficiency-seeking firms in the richer countrie ...
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I have a generally favourable view of free trade agreements under certain conditions. For example, all things being call, under a free trade agreement, which is what the EPA is, efficiency-seeking firms in the richer countries would use the poorer ones as production platforms to take advantage of lower wages. This would encourage industrial and technological diffusion to the poor countries. For some time, this appeared to have worked for Mexico under NAFTA.

The truth, however, is that all things are more often unequal. Sooner or later the initial benefits for the poorer countries would be wiped out as workers in the rich countries begin to agitate and their politicians begin to find ways to rig the markets against the poorer, weaker countries. Secondly, the mere existence of cheap and abundant labour doesn't mean that industrial capital will flow from rich to poor countries, especially if the level of labour skills and productivity is low in the poor countries. Unfortunately, the latter situation is what obtains in many African countries. Unless we improve the productivity levels by raising the quality of labour and infrastructure, all this talk of the EPA helping us develop is just whimsical.
PK 10 years ago

A further point about the logic of Tarzan and other pro-EPA CSOs. That we're still unprepared after a decade-and-half grace period doesn't mean we should sign the EPA, assuming there are genuine concerns about its potential e ...
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A further point about the logic of Tarzan and other pro-EPA CSOs. That we're still unprepared after a decade-and-half grace period doesn't mean we should sign the EPA, assuming there are genuine concerns about its potential effects. If ECOWAS acts in unison, we can still get a postponement while we renegotiate unfavourable aspects of the agreement, while using the further grace period to build capabilities to trade better. Secondly, that the CSOs opposed to the EPA cannot come up with alternatives doesn't mean that ipso facto the EPA is good. That's a very strange piece of logic!

Indeed, the argument by the pro-EPA CSOs that we've got to take whatever the EU has an offer because we're beholden to them through our aid dependence is even more more embarrassing. The EPA cannot be offered to us an Hobson's choice. If previously aid-dependent countries like South Korea had accepted whatever donors like the US were offering them, they would still be largely agrarian societies today. Perhaps, our CSO elites are not as bright as Tarzan wants us to believe!

Of course, it is not true that the CSOs opposed to the EPA haven't offered an alternative. Although I don't share their ideological atavism, if not anachronism, the Third World Network has offered very nuanced alternatives that include signing a renegotiated EPA that's compatible with WTO rules. The latter proposal seeks to bring our interests under an EPA under the protections of international economic law. I find this very sensible, seeing that our government and CSOs elites are already capitulating to the EU's overwhelming power and aid influence. We may not like TWN's socialist pretensions, which led to the embarrassing heckling of the EU official, but let's look at the substance of their proposals, take the grain from the ideological chaff!
MANTSE 10 years ago

The following statement culled from Tarzan's article raises the relevant issues to the fore:

" As far as I can surmise, the EPA is not a one way track to dump EU goods and services onto us. On the contrary, we are allowed ...
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The following statement culled from Tarzan's article raises the relevant issues to the fore:

" As far as I can surmise, the EPA is not a one way track to dump EU goods and services onto us. On the contrary, we are allowed to ship 100% of specified goods into the EU markets. In return, the EU is allowed to ship 75% of their specified goods onto our markets. So it is a trade agreement in which each partner stands to gain something. It is not a sellout arrangement to our former colonial masters.'

When we are to ship 100% of specified goods to EU Markets, have we forgotten the Rejection Rate due to Substandard Finishing and Pesticide remnants and Hygiene considerations?

The point is that even though the OFFER is attractive, the inherent rights of the OFFEROR in any Subordinating agreement, IN EFFECT, MAKES THIS SUBSTANTIALLY A ONE WAY .

While it can be argued that Ghana could also reject substandard goods from the EU, the fact of the matter is that the Production OUTCOMES of the more advanced economies are More REFINED and FINISHED, PACKAGED and LABELED in a manner that permits an inference of superiority which is a seller on store shelves. On the contrary, no matter how good our goods are they tend to be poorly finished and packaged, a NON-STARTER on most Western shelves.

So therefore, our 100% here could be halved by Contractual Rejects alone.

Now, let's turn to the EU's 75% of 'specified goods'. 75% of what? the EU Economy is more than a 1000 times the size of the Ghanaian Economy. So the EU's 75% could be TEN times larger than the Ghana 100%.

More important to consider is the impact of these arrangements on Local Industry. Our Manufacturing Base has been shrinking over the past 5 decades due to similar arrangements made with the view to improving things for the Ghanaian Consumer while really it is to enlarge Market access for the other Signing Party.

The ONLY REAL UN-STRINGED Access, THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES ACT (AGOA) is still dangling in our face and 'BEGGING' us to give meaning to the Benefits that can Accrue therefrom. Since the Year 2000, and after extension of the Timelines for AGOA to give Ghana yet another chance at accessing the Continental American Market, our INTEREST is more driven by signing on to something new.

I DO NOT THINK THERE HAS BEEN ANY SUCH AGREEMENT OFFERED THAT WE HAVE REJECTED BEFORE. AND WE DON'T EVEN READ BEFORE WE SIGH. You get my drift?

This, to me is like KINBU JSS coming to the field with 15 PLAYERS to Play the Black Stars. And you think KINBU JSS would win? A MYOPIC THOUGHT indeed

IT IS TOO LATE IN THE DAY FOR US TO CONTINUE THIS WAY. We never PUT anything on the Table. It is ALWAYS the other side and we fall for it so long AS it is 100% for us and 75% for them without any DUE DILLIGENCE as to what numbers we are striking those Percentages against.

We had similar arrangements with the Indians and Lebanese who qualified by Ghana Investment Promotion rules to bring in 'RAW MATERIALS' for assembly of Electronic Products. Under this arrangeemnt, a whole TV set with ONLY the PLUG missing at the end of the Wires, is considered 'Raw MATERIAL' for which reason the IMPORT DUTY was waived.

AKASANOMAA tried as it could but could not compete and had to fold.

A CHRONICLE of such arrangements will NOT YIELD a single instance where Ghana is a REAL BENEFICIARY and YET we continue to go that route. That is SAD Indeed.

21st Century and we are making the Mistakes of the period of Slavery. Except this time we willingly invite is upon us.

The AGI MUST stand firm. They cannot COMPETE with EU Countries, Period. THE ECONOMICS of SCALE DO NOT FAVOR US. Even China, with the numbers, in terms, of its Population refused these arrangements and did it the Chinese way and look at where they are in just about three decades.

ONLY THE GHANAIAN can make it happen for Ghana. As if LOBSIDED Mining Agreements, Setting the Price for our Gold and Cocoa and Stringing us to RAW DEALS by some AID that ends up in the Pockets of their own Consultants and our Bigmen are not enough, now we are being asked to TURN over our Markets to them. AND WE STILL DON'T GET IT.

Yet we are God's Children, just like them. Something is WRONG.
wachaaka 10 years ago

exceptional piece,

exceptional piece,
Ghfuo, change ur thinking 10 years ago

Who is putting wape toffee in your mouth for you to talk like this? You don't give a damn about Ghana and Dats why you looted during gh@50!
If the good ppl of Ghana don't say NO to epa. How will they then decide on finding a ...
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Who is putting wape toffee in your mouth for you to talk like this? You don't give a damn about Ghana and Dats why you looted during gh@50!
If the good ppl of Ghana don't say NO to epa. How will they then decide on finding alternatives? You want us to find alternatives to epa before we say no to your thieving, lying eu cronies? The eu is looking out for their own interest. Whose interest or side are you on Tarzan? Look, how can you call ppl resisting an epa clause full of inconsistencies and half truths bogus, shameful etc. Stupid man! Go and give ur buddy Claude an apology u fool. U think he cares about you? You couldn't find an adage in gh or Africa to quote abi? You had to borrow one from Albania of all places?
ben 10 years ago

EPA IS ACTUALLY NPP'S BABY, EXCEPT THAT THEY HAVE KEPT QUIET UNTIL THEY ARE NOW SEEING THAT IT IS SLIPPING BY. They are all sell outs, no spine. By their history, Ghana should be sold!

EPA IS ACTUALLY NPP'S BABY, EXCEPT THAT THEY HAVE KEPT QUIET UNTIL THEY ARE NOW SEEING THAT IT IS SLIPPING BY. They are all sell outs, no spine. By their history, Ghana should be sold!
kwame kofi 10 years ago

when is nana addo and k thief hammond going to be hanged for causing financial loss to the state??

when is nana addo and k thief hammond going to be hanged for causing financial loss to the state??
Kojo Billy Duncan 10 years ago

Well thought out piece. The noise makers are too vociferous and they are the last to be committed to self-reliance. I am against the EPA because at this point in time we are not prepared and will not be playing on a level tha ...
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Well thought out piece. The noise makers are too vociferous and they are the last to be committed to self-reliance. I am against the EPA because at this point in time we are not prepared and will not be playing on a level that could be defined as equitable. Our products and services will be classified as sub-standard and thus not exportable.
ghana 10 years ago

Need I say more.....Kino. We will never meet the standards and hence no exports revenue.. Even the local standards we can't meet it how much more the EU.

Need I say more.....Kino. We will never meet the standards and hence no exports revenue.. Even the local standards we can't meet it how much more the EU.
Kojo T 10 years ago

The trouble is that we now fully preach capitalism, but have only crony capitalists. We do not invest and have no enterprise. NPP signed on but then opened the market for dumping . Where are even our putry ad cattle projets. ...
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The trouble is that we now fully preach capitalism, but have only crony capitalists. We do not invest and have no enterprise. NPP signed on but then opened the market for dumping . Where are even our putry ad cattle projets. Who is going to make the standards for us
Judgement Day 10 years ago

Tarzan is right. Let's hear from the CSOs, the alternative to EPA or they should keep their mouths shut.

Tarzan is right. Let's hear from the CSOs, the alternative to EPA or they should keep their mouths shut.
ben 10 years ago

It is just that pro-EPA guys don't listen. They like Tarzan are locked up in tunnel vision without substance. Countless alternatives have been proposed but it looks like some people have smelled honey and don't want to give. ...
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It is just that pro-EPA guys don't listen. They like Tarzan are locked up in tunnel vision without substance. Countless alternatives have been proposed but it looks like some people have smelled honey and don't want to give. Stop deceiving Ghana's as if without EPA, we cannot survive, if so then we have no business calling ourselves a sovreign state. Besides, more than half of what the EU want is not required by law. Sell out and you are doomed!
APOLLO T 10 years ago

NDC DON'T HAVE THE MEN WITH BRAINS TO NEGOTIATE AND TO TAKE WISE DECISIONS.THEY NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE NUMEROUS PROFS,DOCTORS,INTELLECTS,CONSULTANTS ETC IN THE NPP.

NDC DON'T HAVE THE MEN WITH BRAINS TO NEGOTIATE AND TO TAKE WISE DECISIONS.THEY NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE NUMEROUS PROFS,DOCTORS,INTELLECTS,CONSULTANTS ETC IN THE NPP.
Brother 10 years ago

It is well written and admire your courage taking the CSOs to the cleaner more especially when they themselves are beneficiaries of the same EU. I am however at a lose as to why the so called Adams Smith economics giants are ...
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It is well written and admire your courage taking the CSOs to the cleaner more especially when they themselves are beneficiaries of the same EU. I am however at a lose as to why the so called Adams Smith economics giants are trying to bypass the invisible hand and effect quotas. Is it not possible to trade freely without the tariffs they are imposing? That is why President Nkrumah wanted a united Africa and your people said no,not even united Ghana. Somebody tell me to keep watching EU and USA as examples of free enterprise and democracy and all. We need home grown solutions else it will also take us 200 years to catch up with EU and USA. They even had the benefit of free slave labour.
KWAME, BELGIUM 10 years ago

The points raised here by Tarzan are all very correct but who do we blame? I will say the UNITED PARTY(UP) of Dr. Busia. They brought Ghana to a stand still since 1966 else Ghana will not be in this situation.

The points raised here by Tarzan are all very correct but who do we blame? I will say the UNITED PARTY(UP) of Dr. Busia. They brought Ghana to a stand still since 1966 else Ghana will not be in this situation.
Gye Nyame 10 years ago

@Kwame: I often do not like to apportion blame because I am a forward thinking person, but since you open the door to the blame game let me enter it. We have had about 40 plus years of Nkrumah/socialist inclined governments ...
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@Kwame: I often do not like to apportion blame because I am a forward thinking person, but since you open the door to the blame game let me enter it. We have had about 40 plus years of Nkrumah/socialist inclined governments (Nkrumah, Acheampong, Limann, Rawlings, Mills, and Mahama) in our 57 years of independence and that has been our downfall in industrialization.
Sure, I can give some kudos to Nkrumah for trying although he took the wrong fork in the road – seriously what did the East know about industrialization then and now? Building government owned factories and enterprises was the bad choice, since we know government is inefficient especially in a place like Ghana. Ghana Airways during Nkrumah’s time and some factories were already operating at a loss and they later failed because they were bound to fail. What Nkrumah should have done was to empower individuals to own the factories, the way capitalism works. Even Nkrumah realized he had to fall on the West to build Akosombo for us because they had the knowhow and of course the financial support to keep his agenda forward. China was just wallowing in poverty until about 30 years or so when it decided to ditch Maoism to explore individual ownership and open their market.
We are this quagmire because for 40 plus years we have had administrations that did not understand the meaning of capitalism but clinked to the old ways of socialism by relying on government to support everything. So that is our downfall.
Busia was in power for only 2 years so it is hard to do a good evaluation of his administration but I know he started a sewerage system overhaul, and instituted the alien’s compliance order – which gave way to many Ghanaians to take over stores and enterprises controlled by foreigners such as the Nigerians, Syrians and the Lebanese. He also started cleaning and downsizing government especially removing the dead wood and fluff from government roll. All in my capitalist mind a good beginning and Busia took some much needed bold steps, which of course Acheampong was displeased with because "ammenities" were being taken away from the good for nothing military.
Kweku Boateng Jnr 10 years ago

Is it not Busia who promoted Lt. Colonel Acheampong over Colonel Bob Kotei for the simple reason that he Acheampong was an Asante and would not overthrow the PP government?
Gye Nyame, the state be it in the West or East pla ...
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Is it not Busia who promoted Lt. Colonel Acheampong over Colonel Bob Kotei for the simple reason that he Acheampong was an Asante and would not overthrow the PP government?
Gye Nyame, the state be it in the West or East plays a critical role in development. Check the development of the USA.
Gye Nyame 10 years ago

But I guess the Acheampong promotion was not enough; since to him the cut to the military amenities outweighed the benefits he got from his promotion; also note that Busia was not Ashanti but from the Brong Ahafo area. We ...
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But I guess the Acheampong promotion was not enough; since to him the cut to the military amenities outweighed the benefits he got from his promotion; also note that Busia was not Ashanti but from the Brong Ahafo area. Were there no Brong Ahafo folks in the military then? Not that I would condone such a promotion not based on merit.
I did not quite get your last paragraph but I can tell you that aligning with the right folks in life is always important for both an individual and a nation’s development.
Foxnews 10 years ago

Nobody was saying NO NO NO NO,and probably you and your generation are the problem that are dragging africa down.Aren't we damn tired with all those free aid in the likes of DANIDA,USAID,CIDA,world bank and it about time we s ...
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Nobody was saying NO NO NO NO,and probably you and your generation are the problem that are dragging africa down.Aren't we damn tired with all those free aid in the likes of DANIDA,USAID,CIDA,world bank and it about time we stand as people and race and solve our problems ourselves instead of going alround the globe with begging bowl in our hands to beg for peanut.When are we going to respect our dignity as a people and race?.The problem is not about Mr.claude maerten but the false trade agreemnent which is not in line with WTO rules,the EPA is indirect form of slavery,if the present agreement is not checked and adress the current short falls in it then as a nation we should stop thinking about industralization. So my question to you and your paid masters are simple,do we have to sell our birth right of our nation and the future children of this country just to please the whiteman?,because if thats our vision then we are doomed and must forget about industralization or diversification of our raw materials if we sign this agreement.
Foxnews 10 years ago

l have heard and seen acouple of CSO's with even better alternatives but the government wouldn't listen because they have already made their mind to sign the foolish agreement without indept analysis of the cost disadvantag ...
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l have heard and seen acouple of CSO's with even better alternatives but the government wouldn't listen because they have already made their mind to sign the foolish agreement without indept analysis of the cost disadvantage to the economy at the moment and that of our national vision into consideration for about 20-30 years along the way.Ghana have gold,bauxite,diamond,lron ore,gas and oil and agriculture potencial so if one could sit and analysis where our strength is l will definitly say in the manufacturing sector.So when the time comes to industralize we are going to compete with all this mutinational companies which have the edge in technonology,finance and logistics but in that case we might have sold our birth right already by signing EPA which is going to cripple any indeginious Ghanaian industries in the manufacturing sector in the future thats why we need to be careful not to sign any agreement.
ghana 10 years ago

Well said

Well said
Gye Nyame 10 years ago

Unfortunately government,government, government, that is what we were taught to understand from the get go so what do we expect? We have come to expect freebies and govt handouts so we have stopped thinking. We wait for "aban ...
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Unfortunately government,government, government, that is what we were taught to understand from the get go so what do we expect? We have come to expect freebies and govt handouts so we have stopped thinking. We wait for "aban" to do our thinking for us and the government relies on foreign donors to supplement their budget. What a country of losers!
Obournana 10 years ago

Tell your NPP and the minute political parties who only know how to say NO but and turn around to talk about the difficulties we are facing. How can a third world country like Ghana giving conditions on its products, when we ...
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Tell your NPP and the minute political parties who only know how to say NO but and turn around to talk about the difficulties we are facing. How can a third world country like Ghana giving conditions on its products, when we cannot preserve our goods? In America, we get fresh corn all year round but can we do same? What about common tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits? Politicians will keep use ignorant fools to do their job for them.
Mama Tula 10 years ago

Well thought of article, facts presented like a professor writing his thesis and a beautiful contribution as well. May the CSO come out with alternatives or sit down and keep their mouths shut up. It was shameful and disgrace ...
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Well thought of article, facts presented like a professor writing his thesis and a beautiful contribution as well. May the CSO come out with alternatives or sit down and keep their mouths shut up. It was shameful and disgraceful to drive the EU official away from the hall in such a uncivilsed manner. Bravo Tarzan, and you should tell them as it is.
Analyst 10 years ago

This is a pragmatic approach to the EPA. Clearly Dr Wereko-Brobby understands what the EPA is about. Unfortunately, most people who are making ugly noises about our signing the EPA lack undestanding of what is at stake.
Pres ...
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This is a pragmatic approach to the EPA. Clearly Dr Wereko-Brobby understands what the EPA is about. Unfortunately, most people who are making ugly noises about our signing the EPA lack undestanding of what is at stake.
Presently we are in the era of what I will call interim EPA and by October this year if we fail to sign, what it means is that we do not want to trade with Europe. The question is: Can Ghana survive without trading with Europe? The answer is a clear NO. Our economy will crumble if Europe shuts her doors to our cocoa for example.
All along, we have been touting the slogan concerning our relation with Europe, "Africa does not need aid but trade". It is an irony that we are rather crying foul when all trade barriers between us and Europe are getting removed by EPA. The only thing we see in the EPA is that Europe is going to dump her goods on us.We cannot see that we also can flood the European market with our goods.
It is unfortunate that governments since 2004 when the EPA began have failed to educate the citizens to carry them along. This failure has made ignorance well entrenched to the extent that even civil society organisations would try to manhandle the EU rep who kindly agreed to dialogue with them on EPA.
Ghfuo, change ur thinking 10 years ago

Can the eu do without coffee, cocoa? No! So whether gh signs the epa or not. Our resources will still be in demand. Look, gh needs tonsee herself as a unique kenkey, waakye seller or even prostitute. The demand will always be ...
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Can the eu do without coffee, cocoa? No! So whether gh signs the epa or not. Our resources will still be in demand. Look, gh needs tonsee herself as a unique kenkey, waakye seller or even prostitute. The demand will always be there, but what are you doing to differentiate your goods from the rest? What are your advantages and high selling points? The eu needs us more than we need them. Even china needs our raw materials for their finished goods. We need to be calling the shots, not the eu. If we don't like the deal, we don't sign and offer alternatives.
Haruna 10 years ago

But I'm sure people like okoampa-ahoofe, who obviously are incapable of doing this kind of thinking, will jump at you soon! He and his kinds are a disgrace to the academia!

But I'm sure people like okoampa-ahoofe, who obviously are incapable of doing this kind of thinking, will jump at you soon! He and his kinds are a disgrace to the academia!
We'll Never Forget & Never Forgive 10 years ago

It is thanks to Kufuor's complicity and Mahama's indulgence in the same corruption that, you a notorious criminal looter, can take to air to spew forth such rabid bullship. But do remember that tomorrow is another day, and yo ...
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It is thanks to Kufuor's complicity and Mahama's indulgence in the same corruption that, you a notorious criminal looter, can take to air to spew forth such rabid bullship. But do remember that tomorrow is another day, and you will surely account for your shameless avarice and profligate thievery someday!
Opia 10 years ago

Spot on Doc. My puzzle about all of this is that if Ghana ever becomes an economic giant someday, does it hope to export its goods to another country, and what if those countries cry foul that we are dumping goods on their so ...
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Spot on Doc. My puzzle about all of this is that if Ghana ever becomes an economic giant someday, does it hope to export its goods to another country, and what if those countries cry foul that we are dumping goods on their soil? In any event, we keep signing trade agreements with all kinds of countries and I wonder whether the CSOs have bothered to look at the terms of those ones.
Yamba 10 years ago

After taking their money you insult insult them and mislead Ghanaians to believe you know it all. What is the solution, Tarzan is asking.

After taking their money you insult insult them and mislead Ghanaians to believe you know it all. What is the solution, Tarzan is asking.
Koo Emma 10 years ago

Tarzan is right. Our type of education has only empowered us to criticise vociferously and destructively. 'Ahwenepa nkasa', the Akans will say. So let's learn to build our nation quietly and with focus like Nehemiah built the ...
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Tarzan is right. Our type of education has only empowered us to criticise vociferously and destructively. 'Ahwenepa nkasa', the Akans will say. So let's learn to build our nation quietly and with focus like Nehemiah built the walls of Jerusalem within 52 days.
zak 10 years ago

Good piece. Points to note:
EPA is a scheme to create free trade area between EU and Carribean,African and Pacific Countries
The Partners are to reduce tariffs(taxes) on goods coming in.
EPA opens EU markets immediately t ...
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Good piece. Points to note:
EPA is a scheme to create free trade area between EU and Carribean,African and Pacific Countries
The Partners are to reduce tariffs(taxes) on goods coming in.
EPA opens EU markets immediately to ACP countries.
It will allow ACP counties 15 to 25 years to open up to EU imports.
This period should allow ACP countries to build capacity and quality.
The fear is that we may not catch up and end up being dumped on with resulatant impact on jobs and industry.
The alternative is to look at it as an opportunity for further integration into world economy, access to bigger markets,create more jobs through expansion, attract more FDI and grow GDP.
We will not achieve Nkrumah's vision of the black man being capable of managing his own affairs if our deliberations are driven by fear and lack of determination. Nothing is impossible. We make paahpaah abount neocolonialism but the fact is that we are still in hoc to the neocolonialist. Check Ghana's budget and you will see that a big chunk of annual expenditure is supported by foreign(including European) grants. This is 57 years down the line.The fault is not always in our stars . We should open our eyes and look within.
hand maiden 10 years ago

zak well said, if there is capacity anything is possible.instead of the northners trying their best to help small business, they are collapsing those that are not linked to them, if signed it would just help those who are alr ...
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zak well said, if there is capacity anything is possible.instead of the northners trying their best to help small business, they are collapsing those that are not linked to them, if signed it would just help those who are already looting, Ibrahaim Mahama and his cohorts etc.other companies who do not have funding and capacity would collapse such as my company. don´t I sound selfish now? but that is the truth all are thinking of themselves and not the future of our nation. Do you think that if we reject this agreement, we can´t survive? we would and even better. Ask Mugabe and he would tell you God takes care of His own. Zimbabwe is surviving because it has a strong leader, Cuba did, china did and now doing excellent. Ghanaians arise and build your motherland, rather than being lazy and complacent and speaking big English without working out to build our nation. President Mahama get some balls to put your ministers to work, they shouldn´t be timid, they need to think and come out with ideas and good reasoning that would move the country forward. we are sick of lazy ministers who wont stand up to face their task but would rather succumb to any whims from foreign donors. just because someone gives you food doesn´t mean he controls your head. Use your heads period!
clan 10 years ago

I love to read from Tarzan, but sometimes I hate his writings, and it's because, I lean to the NPP.
Tarzan is an NPP, only that he is bitter about the NPP and I do not know why. The NPP has got to bring Tarzan to the fold.

I love to read from Tarzan, but sometimes I hate his writings, and it's because, I lean to the NPP.
Tarzan is an NPP, only that he is bitter about the NPP and I do not know why. The NPP has got to bring Tarzan to the fold.
AMAZON FOREST 10 years ago

If Tarzan would be candid enough to look at both sides of the coin, Third world network over the weekend proposed some measures to the EPA, which if looked at, could serve as a platform to negotiate the terms of the EPA const ...
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If Tarzan would be candid enough to look at both sides of the coin, Third world network over the weekend proposed some measures to the EPA, which if looked at, could serve as a platform to negotiate the terms of the EPA constructively and beneficially to both parties. To suggest that, because there's some support coming from the EU so Ghana should necessarily capitulate to the demands of the EU, which in your own write up seeks to protect their own interest, wealth and well being of their citizenry at our expense, is highly illogical and untenable. The prospects over the long term all points to Africa, as the next growth pole, which is highly untapped. This is the time for rational, strategic and visionary thinking and the promotion of the judicious use of our resources whilst leveraging on some of the clauses that benefits the country and our region, in the medium to long term.
The EPA as it is presently constructed doesn't make any sense to even the average mind, and should be reviewed in our interest, bottom line. To say that we should just go ahead and just sign it, because there are CSO's benefiting from the EU and host of other infantile reasons, doesn't make any sense, moreover when there are clauses in there, which are detrimental to the country and the region over the long term.
Dr. Ayisi 10 years ago

Dr. Wereko-Brobey is right. There is no point criticizing when you can't or refuse to offer alternative solutions. Sadly however, that is what pertains in Ghana. Our Politicians suddenly become EXPERTS, when thrown into opp ...
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Dr. Wereko-Brobey is right. There is no point criticizing when you can't or refuse to offer alternative solutions. Sadly however, that is what pertains in Ghana. Our Politicians suddenly become EXPERTS, when thrown into opposition. They then criticize whatever the incumbent government does, without offering tangible solutions. They withdraw their services that will help the country move forward, they become aloof except criticize. They even pray the incumbent government fails. They Forget that when a government fails,it is the country that fails. They criticize the incumbent for the same problems they did not solve when they were in power. Some of the academics are also in the same boat. They sing: "we will overthrow the government if it signs the EPA." without offering to help analyze the EPA in its current form and offering tangible tweaks to make it better for Ghana. You have politicians calling for "Arab Spring" which will only be disruptive and destructive instead of offering alternative and better solutions. We need to point out the problems in the EPA as it is now and find alternatives to make them suitable to Ghana through dialogue with the EU.
PK 10 years ago

"Dr. Wereko-Brobey is right. There is no point criticizing when you can't or refuse to offer alternative solutions."

Well, one's inability to offer alternatives to 'A' doesn't mean that 'A' is good in itself. Moreover, the ...
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"Dr. Wereko-Brobey is right. There is no point criticizing when you can't or refuse to offer alternative solutions."

Well, one's inability to offer alternatives to 'A' doesn't mean that 'A' is good in itself. Moreover, there is also no point for Wereko-Brobbey to criticise other CSOs for failing to offer alternatives when his own think-tank offers no alternative; worst when he is not prepared to listen to alternatives being offered by others.
sly 10 years ago

well said

well said
Earl Jones 10 years ago

I can't believe a very illogical and presumptious writing will come from you? So we have access to 100% of EU and EU intend will have 75% of our market. Tell me, what exports will Ghana be sending to EU to use up the 100%?
G ...
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I can't believe a very illogical and presumptious writing will come from you? So we have access to 100% of EU and EU intend will have 75% of our market. Tell me, what exports will Ghana be sending to EU to use up the 100%?
Ghana can have 100% but if EU puts barriers in the way to prevent the use of the 100% then how can that be of any use?
It is up to EU to promote its interest. It is also up to Ghana to protect hers. It would have been totally unacceptable even preposterous if Africa made a similar proposal, such as the EPA, to the EU.
Kwaansa 10 years ago

I am off to form a cso, We will support production of raw materials in Ghana for the EU Manufacturing sector and facilitate importation of finished goods. This will reduce the shifting reliance on China which is making them ...
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I am off to form a cso, We will support production of raw materials in Ghana for the EU Manufacturing sector and facilitate importation of finished goods. This will reduce the shifting reliance on China which is making them a treat to the west. Any funding from EU.
Bomfaboy 10 years ago

This, I agree with Tarzan. When we find every means possible to run to the EU and Americas with cup in hand for the cramps, why are we running away from the obvious? MePA or not the Europians will dump their products on is. ...
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This, I agree with Tarzan. When we find every means possible to run to the EU and Americas with cup in hand for the cramps, why are we running away from the obvious? MePA or not the Europians will dump their products on is. Since Ghanaians have become consumers of foreign products, as our scientist sits with their hands In their crouch, nothing would change.
CHE 10 years ago

The number of elitist opinion leaders in our society who have mounted media platforms to side with our colonial oppressors is maddening. they are of course protecting their class privileges - the chance to buy cheap champagne ...
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The number of elitist opinion leaders in our society who have mounted media platforms to side with our colonial oppressors is maddening. they are of course protecting their class privileges - the chance to buy cheap champagne and wine from the EU. Who will talk on behalf of our peasant farmers and co-operatives who would have their markets laid bare to the unfair competition from maize,rice, canned tomatoes from EU farmers.As social inequality heightens under the EPA, we will see more armed robberies in our cities and the bourgeoisie will increase the height of their fence walls and razor topped gates. can we not begin to increase trade among fellow African countries? can we not look at adding value to cocoa beans instead of exporting raw materials? can our goldsmiths not make more jewelry instead of us exporting unrefined gold? our colonial masters are looking to divide us again under neo- colonialism by using such agreements as a wedge tool. If ivory coast signs, then other neighboring countries are railroaded into signing too. Wake up Africa, we miss the ideas and action of our illustrious and clairvoyant son Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory
boss 10 years ago

Tarzan as a policy analyst needs to do proper research on this. Various economic analysis all point to the fact that the EPA will result in a net gain to the EU. Read some of the analysis from the UN and other stakeholders. J ...
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Tarzan as a policy analyst needs to do proper research on this. Various economic analysis all point to the fact that the EPA will result in a net gain to the EU. Read some of the analysis from the UN and other stakeholders. Just google and you will find tons of this. I have worked on international trade issues in developed countries for sometime and it beats my mind why we need the EU to come and explain the EPA to Ghanaians. I have am yet to hear of a government signing an EPA and asking the other party to come and explain things to its citizens. I guess we only have idiots at the Trade and Industry Ministry hence there is nobody to explain things. Pretty absurd.
Lloyd Fugar 10 years ago

This is pin point precision at the know all civil society who still wear EU pampers sucking their breast milk yet attacking and biting the very hands responsible for their existence.The head of the civil society in an intervi ...
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This is pin point precision at the know all civil society who still wear EU pampers sucking their breast milk yet attacking and biting the very hands responsible for their existence.The head of the civil society in an interview said was in France when the meeting was being planned. Whose funds sent him to the EPA country? Dr Tarzan has been too lenient on his choise of words.He must release ballistic laser guided tomahawk cruise missiles on them in his next writeup.
Death 10 years ago

Dr.C.Wereko-Brobbey you have said the thruth maybe the CSOs,the Politicians and the others had wanted the EU and for that matter Mr. C.Maerten to bride them before.We only have a very large number of people who have sold thei ...
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Dr.C.Wereko-Brobbey you have said the thruth maybe the CSOs,the Politicians and the others had wanted the EU and for that matter Mr. C.Maerten to bride them before.We only have a very large number of people who have sold their Senses and Intilegence for money forgetting that thy will oneday die.

Tarzan Writes: The only free cheese…

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