WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(98)/ST/112
20 May 1998
(98-2125)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Second Session
Geneva, 18 and 20 May 1998Original:  English
GHANA
Statement Circulated by the Hon. Mr. Dan Abodakpi,
Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
Let me begin by reiterating Ghana's unalloyed commitment to the underlying principles and
practice of the open and multilateral trading system under the auspices of the WTO.
This meeting provides an opportunity for Members to share their respective evaluations
regarding the implementation of the Uruguay Round re sults.  The lessons drawn from such practical
experiences should constitute the basis upon which to consider what range of activities, by way of
future agenda, would be most effective to accelerate the achievement of the objectives the WTO has
set itself.
For the WTO the focus of activities has been on the need to ensure openness of the trading
system through adherence to the multilateral rules by Members.  This is to ensure that derivation of
benefits from the multilateral system is indeed enhanced and not impaired.  This is accompanied
however by numerous obligations.
The structural handicaps afflicting Ghana and indeed other African countries are well known.
In a global economy still characterized by enormous inequalities and asymmetries, it is worthwhilereiterating that the African region is the weakest group of actors.
The obligations which an endeavour as complex as the Uruguay Round has placed on the
countries in the African region has resulted in a further stress on the already limited resources of the
region.
There is no doubt that despite our best endeavours, the fundamental problems and negative
features of African trade continue to exist.  Africa continues to grapple with falling productivity in
strategic economic sectors particularly in agriculture and industry, weak export performance, negativebalance of payments and increasing foreign indebtedness.  This in spite of far-reaching trade and
macro reforms in many of our countries.  It is no wonder then that Africa's share of world trade
declined steadily from 4.7 per cent in 1980 to its current low level of around 2 per cent.  Indeed the
gulf particularly between countries in Africa and the developed world in terms of production,
technology and infrastructure continues to widen.  With these apparent weaknesses in our economicsystems, the primary preoccupation of the Ghana delegation is the search for a change that would
inspire genuine competitiveness and equity in trad e to facilitate our full integration into the
multilateral trading system.
While it is important to ensure compliance with obligations under the various Agreements, it
is equally important to ensure that all Members, particularly the poor and the fragile ones, are able totake advantage of the openings and trade opportunities thus created to positively transform their
economies.  Indeed the fact that the African continent's trade performance continues to deteriorateWT/MIN(98)/ST/112
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should be of concern to all.  An economically viable Africa performing its right role in the multilateral
trading system will be mutually beneficial to all and serve as a big boost to global trade.
Ghana's optimism in the relevance of the mu ltilateral trading system in creating and
maintaining opportunities for sustainable development has been amply demonstrated through her
active participation in the activities of the WTO especially the post Uruguay Round negotiations.
This has been done notwithstanding her limited capabilities and resources.  I am proud to mention mycountry's participation in the services negotiations in the areas of Basic Telecommunications and
Financial Services.  In both areas mentioned above, Ghana made substantial offers by way of
schedules.
For us in Ghana, our capacity of participation in future negotiations will be greatly enhanced
if the weaknesses in our trade structures are addressed.
In this connection we recognize the immense potential benefits that the Integrated Technical
Assistance Programme jointly operated by WTO, UNCTAD and ITC offers Africa.  The programmeshould at all stages of its implementation involve consultations with the beneficiary countries to
ensure that it ends up in practical benefits to the target countries.
Without being exhaustive, the following are emphasized as areas of particular importance
which should be adequately addressed in the programme by way of technical assistance.
(i)        Private sector capacity improvement
The international trading environment has undergone tremendous changes particularly as a
result of the Uruguay Round.  Numerous changes have been effected to the ways of doing business.
As the new market opportunities resulting from the R ound are there to be seized solely by the private
sector operators with little or no room at all for reliance on government handout, the development of
the African private sector becomes imperative.  There is the need for the private sector to be updatedon the opportunities and changes resulting from the Round.  A private sector component has to be
made an important aspect of the programme.
(ii)     Human resource training in trade policy
It is considered vital for additional action to upgrade the knowledge of African trade officials
to enhance their effectiveness and to enable them live up to expectation regarding their enhanced role
in the global economy.
(iii) Access to market information
As a result of the vigorous competition in today's trading environment, the availability of
trade information and easy access to such information play an important role in a successful export
trade.  Lack of information about export markets has been a major constraint in the export efforts ofAfrican countries.  Assistance should focus on both the development of efficient information base as
well as how to access and utilize information.
(iv) Improvement or diversification of export base
A basic problem of most African countries including Ghana is that of limited export base.
There is the urgent need to shift away from this rather unfavourable situation.  It is important for
specific programmes to be developed to address Africa's supply side needs to diversify the production
base both horizontally and vertically to ensure its better response to market access opportunities.Indeed, the numerous market access openings will be meaningless to Africa if she is unable toWT/MIN(98)/ST/112
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improve supplies to meet purchase orders.  It is also considered important for research programmes to
be developed for possible expansion of the end uses of products of export interest to African
countries.
Indeed, globalization and liberalization are imposing additional strains on countries such as
Ghana.  However, we in Ghana see these difficulties as challenges which can be overcome, if the
multilateral system adopts a cooperative approach towards the resolution of these problems.  Wetherefore call on the developed world to avoid equivocation and ambivalence in ensuring a true open
market regime.
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