Ho, Nov. 14, GNA - Mr Seth Abloso, acting Head, Organization Department of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has said that, Ghana would lose its sovereignty and perpetually remain under-developed by signing to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). "In my opinion the government would then have declared itself irrelevant and redundant".

He expressed these reservations at a joint meeting of the Volta Regional and District Councils of Labour in Ho on Wednesday. He said the current state of the country's rice industry arising out of trade liberalization was exactly what would be happening to the entire economy should the country accede to that agreement. Mr Abloso said the elimination of taxes on foreign goods as proposed in the Agreement would open the flood gates for European goods to flood the Ghanaian market to the detriment of local industries. He said because taxes on foreign goods would be eliminated under the agreement government's capacity to fund development would be blown away given the country's reliance on such taxes to fund its development programmes. Mr Abloso said the country would then be surrendering the commanding heights of local organizations to foreigners by signing to the Agreement.

He said the social dimensions of the effects of signing to the EPA would be higher unemployment, poverty, crime, more street children, teenage mothers and rural to urban migration. He said EPA would increase hardships among the citizenry but because those in government would be insulated against such hardships it would be difficult for them to come to terms with such problems. "That is what EPA can do to us, not that we love protests but to caution government, let us reflect the mood of the people forcefully," Mr Abloso told the meeting. He therefore urged the leadership of the various Councils of Labour to discuss the issues with their membership and the public. Mr Abloso said Labour was ready to support government in taking measures to protect the vital interests of the country. 14 Nov. 08