Ghana has called on the ECOWAS Secretariat to help strengthen the capacity of member countries to negotiate international economic trade agreements with the industrialised world.

ECOWAS should also be in a position to foster collaboration of member states for a common position in negotiations between the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the European Union (EU) partnership agreement.

Speaking at the Ghana Day at the 10-day, third ECOWAS Trade Fair in Lome, Togo at the weekend the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku said the organisation should propel countries of the West Africa Sub-Region to adopt a common position in negotiating with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the Daho Development Agenda.

Dr Apraku said the immediate aim of the Ghana government was to stabilise the country's macro economy through reducing inflation, interest rate and stabilizing the cedi. He stressed Ghana's commitment to the principles and objectives of ECOWAS and improving its trade within the Sub-Region. He said available statistics showed that in 2001 Ghana's share of total non-traditional exports in West Africa was 26 per cent.

The Trade and Industry Minister said in 2002 this increased to 28 per cent while the projection for this year (2003) was 35 per cent. He noted that Ghana could only achieve this target through the removal of barriers to trade in the Sub-Region. He pointed out that this could only be achieved through the creation of a harmonious Tariffs and Customs Union of the Sub-Region.

The Ghana and ECOWAS flags were hoisted in a flag-raising ceremony at the forecourt of the Trade Fair Centre on Saturday. Present at the ceremony were officials of the ECOWAS Secretariat, Ghana's Ambassador to Togo, Mr Kwabena Mensah-Bonsu, Mrs Esther Ofori, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Trade Fair Authority and Ghanaian and International Exhibitors at the fair.