WE ARE TIRED OF TIED AID (SEPT 26)

THE new thinking in international trade focuses on liberalised and unhindered market access for especially products from the developing countries to the developed world.
Leaders from developing countries have advocated a paradigm shift from aid to trade as the only guarantee to grow the economies of countries like Ghana.
This thinking is informed by the fact that aid packages had never been a panacea for rapid development.
It is on record that billions of United States dollars have been sunk into African or, for that matter, third world economies in the form of development assistance.
Regrettably, about half of such funds go back to these development partners in the form of payment for consultancies.
Thus, the true meaning of development aid losses its essence.
The Daily Graphic, therefore, shares the sentiments of President John Evans Atta Mills in his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly that “ for developing countries like Ghana, a meaningful liberalisation must be accompanied by predictable access to markets, eliminating abuse of anti-dumping measures and the reduction in tariff and non-tariff barriers”.
Trade barriers imposed by developed countries have been one of the long raging debates within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) championed by the developing countries.
The banana war, which also affected Ghana’s banana exports to Europe, and lately the use of phyto-sanitary, bar codes, and fumigation are all part of trade restrictions aimed at preventing products from the developed countries onto the international markets.
Ironically, the developed countries are pushing for further liberalisation of African markets to provide access to their products.
The Daily Graphic believes that if there must be a fair trading system, then there must be equal market access to ensure development for all and not just a few.
We think that beyond the rhetoric of the Western leaders, they must demonstrate their willingness to see a free world economic order in which poor countries have unhindered access to their markets.
Examples abound all over the world where trade between countries have lifted such partners from abject poverty to a position of hope and possibilities.
Trade has even assumed greater importance now than ever because of the globalised nature of the world economy. Therefore, so pervasive is the power of globalisation that no one country can develop in isolation.
The Daily Graphic thinks it is incumbent on all to ensure equity and fairness in world trade, where there is greater emphasis on trust and goodwill among countries.
The developed countries must know that their own future development cannot be guaranteed, if the rest of the world lives in poverty because the push-pull factor will draw the youth to seek greener pastures in developed economies.
Our government also needs to take the necessary policy actions that will maximise the opportunities available in the world trade arrangements to bring about development for the people.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that the government must re-think its agreement with the European Union under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to ensure that the country derives maximum benefits from the agreement.
All that we are saying is that “do not give us fish but teach us how to fish” because we are tired of tied aid.