Ho, Sept. 24, GNA - Reverend Alexander Avor, Volta Regional Focal Person of Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC), has appealed to the government not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in its present form.

He said studies conducted by GTLC on the impact of signing the proposed agreement had shown that it would have detrimental effects on the country's economy.

Rev Avor made the appeal at a one-day forum organised at Ho on Saturday by GTLC.

The forum, which was attended by over 50 participants, was on the theme "The effects of the EPAs on Ghana's Economy".

GTLC is a nationwide advocacy organization comprising NGOs, civil society groups, community-based organizations as well as farmer and producer groups that advocate for trade justice.

Rev Avor said GTLC saw the agreement as a threat to the livelihoods and food security of Ghanaians, influx of cheap foreign products and would stifle local industries.

He said Ghana would also find it difficult to compete economically with EU countries.

Rev Avor said government must rather focus attention on the development of local industries. He called on the government to stimulate regional integration among ECOWAS countries as the way forward to economic development that would ensure free and fair trade among member countries. "The EU has built its strength on regional integration so regional integration is a forceful means to foster integration into the world economy", he said.