. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/106 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6106) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
GHANA 
 
Statement by the Honourable Alan J.K. Kyerematen
 
Minister of Trade and Industry  
   I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf  of the Ghana delegation, to express our deep 
appreciation to the government a nd people of Hong Kong, China, for the warm hospitality and the 
excellent facilities that have been placed at our disposal and for our benefit at this Sixth WTO 
Ministerial Conference.   We are gathered here in Hong Kong at a very critical period in the history of this organization, when the entire world is focussing its  attention on whether or not the Organization can 
survive the threat of failure and eventual corporate suicide.  This situation, Mr Chairman, has arisen 
not because we as Members do not believe in the valu e and importance of global trade, but because of 
the record and history of failure that has been associated with the work of the WTO in the past. 
  It is no longer a matter of public debate anywhere in the world, that trade is indeed, the most powerful engine of growth, particularly for poor countr ies.  It is against this background that those of 
us in the developing world have committed ourselves to participate and support the work of the WTO. 
However, it is becoming increasingly clear as the y ears roll by, that those Member countries who have 
the power and resources to make this Organization succeed, have failed to take concrete steps to 
ensure that the Organization achieves its objectives.   A clear testimony in this regard is the failu re of the developed countries under the negotiating 
mandate for Agriculture, to establish modalities to  eliminate all forms of export subsidies by a 
credible end-date;  to substantially reduce tr ade distorting domestic support measures and provide 
enhanced market access to developing countries.  In  particular, the case of cotton in West Africa and 
other parts of the developing world, is one of the most graphic representation of how trade distortions 
engineered by the developed countries can deprive th e livelihood of millions of poor peasant farmers. 
 
 The lack of sufficient progress in the NAMA nego tiations has an equivalent effect of further 
deepening poverty in Africa.  The future of Africa lies in adding value to our natural resources, which 
we have exported in their raw forms at uncompe titive prices for over a century.  However, the 
existence of tariff peaks and tariff escalation is a disincentive to industrialization in Africa. 
 
 Without special and differential treatment, w ithout preferences and without flexibilities that 
guarantee policy space for developing countries, multilateral trade would mean nothing to poor 
countries.   Likewise, unless we are able to negotiate an Aid for Trade package in this Round of 
negotiations, poor countries would not even be able  to take advantage of the limited market access 
opportunities that have been offered to them.  WT/MIN(05)/ST/106 
Page 2  
 
  l have made reference to these negotiation issues,  because for trade to become a tool to make 
poverty history in the world, we as Members, must  tear down the barriers to global trade.  This 
requires commitment and sacrifices on the part of  all parties, rich and poor, developed and 
developing.  We must act more than we talk, because  so far, rhetoric has not been matched by our act. 
This is the time to make difficult choices and not  seek protection under the principle of reduced 
expectations. 
  These are the challenges before us and we must  confront them with courage rather than 
throwing our hands in the air in despair.  We must be inspired by the challenges of success and not be 
haunted by the fear of failure.  But to do that as Member countries, we must move beyond our 
individual interests and ambitions and prot ect our collective interest and security. 
  I would like in conclusion, to emphasize that th e benefits of global trade are adequate for all 
of us to share in.  There is enough for everybody to eat, so let us work together to reap the harvest. 
 
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