ThisWeekGhana.com becomes  the D-O-T
before the dot com
 
Commentary Page

We invite commentaries from writers all over. The subject is about Ghana and the world. We reserve the right to accept or reject submissions, but we are not necessarily responsible for the opinions expressed in articles we publish......MORE

 
 

EPA and the hurry to put Africa back on the colonial plantation

 

E. Ablorh-Odjidja, Ghanadot

May 23, 2009

 

It has been, at least, half a century since independence in many of the states in Sub-Saharan Africa.  That was to be, at least, the symbolic end of colonialism for us. But it should be remembered that no sooner did we put slavery to rest than we quickly helped to put in its place colonialism, the mother of neo-colonialism. 

Europe gave up the institutions of slavery and colonialism not because of the agency of a moral force but also because, as economic models, the two institutions could not be sustained in their old forms.  This must also be remembered.

 

But to get back what was lost under colonialism at independence, the EU has now resorted to this EPA proposal (Economic Partnership Agreements) with Africa. 

 

In practical form, the EPA is today's neo-colonialism; the adjunct of colonialism, and probably, the sliest and most potent form of the old institution of colonialism itself.

 

The EPA aims to bring back the good old days of the colonial relationship; when Europe was assured of ready, cheap raw material from Africa in exchange for her surplus manufactured goods.

 

Why Africa should want the above marketing relationship with its old colonial masters is a perplexing point. But why Africa hasn't figured out yet its history is silly.

 

If history has any bearing on African affairs, this EPA issue and its undergirding notions will be put in place sooner than later, and of all actors by the nations of Africa themselves.

 

No surprise here, participation in the twin institutions of slavery and colonialism has not taught the needed lessons.  Thus, this EPA proposal would not either.  This is the tragic part of our history.

 

The EPA is an arrangement of tariff preferences offered to former African colonies for access to European markets.  It is purported to offer price stability for agricultural and mining products from these countries.

 

But we have been this way before; a warmed-up version of the ACP (African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries)' act offered in 2000 with the Cotonou Agreement that was designated as “the most comprehensive partnership agreement” by the EU,

 

The uniform feature of both the ACP and EPA is the "reciprocity and non-discriminatory" assurances they offered.  Both packages have been touted as generous for the former colonies.

 

But note, as always, Europe, the principal trading partner, is at the helm as she was under colonialism.

 

The EPA was to start at the end of 2008.  But conscience-stricken potential members from the Third World were foot-dragging.  They remembered too well the Lome Convention of 1975 before Cotonou and the preferences for supplies of raw material that Europe had sought for itself in that package.  

 

But since 1975, the demand for natural resources had expanded.  China, India, and Japan had become urgent competitors in the acquisition of raw materials.

 

Europe has had the preferred access to raw products from Africa because of her colonies.  But now under the growing threat of competition from outsiders, they are offering the EPA, promoting it as a moral force following the dictates of the WTO.  

 

So, by offering the EPA as a “reciprocity and non-discriminatory practice”, the EU now thinks it has conformed to a universal sanction.

 

But this approach to moral certainty is muddled.  The WTO rules require that all countries that are at the same level of economic development must be offered the same trade privileges as offered under the EPA. 

 

However, how equal in economic power are all these poor former colonies when compared with the countries of Europe that they are in partnership?

 

The intention here does not seem noble since most of the target countries in the partnership are poor African countries. 

 

The “non-discriminatory” part of the WTO rule looms large here if we should consider the fact that Africa is already a desirable marketplace for dumping Europe's manufactured goods.  But Africa offers no manufactured product as a threat to European manufacturers.

 

In effect, the WTO requirement is being used by the EPA to furthermore exploit, the very essence of which is that it i’s a trading format for unequal partners.

 

The disparity is so obvious here.  To avoid discrimination, the African partners in the EPA will be expected to grant its EU partners "originating imports of goods duty-free access into their markets, the same as granted by the EU on selected goods under the expired Lomé Agreement.”

 

Europe will have access to markets in Africa for all her products.  With this in place, the EPA opens the door for neo-colonialism and the “reciprocity” arrangement then creates a barrier for growing competition from other competitors in the same market space.

 

The term “reciprocity” with Europe, in the EPA, then becomes a fanciful word.  But for the third-world and African members, the same becomes a drug for dulling the senses. The notion that they have a trading right with Europe would be all that matters. and the implicit threat of losing their weaker manufacturing base to Europe will be overlooked.

 

The overall effect will be the same effect after the Berlin Conference of 1884 was signed, in that it will prevent friction among the EU partners while holding competitors, say from Asia, back.

 

And who would be sensible enough in Africa to blame Europe this time?

 

On the surface, the EPA arrangement is being pushed aggressively, a win-win deal, for all potential members.  No one in Africa is prevented from joining the EPA; either individually or in groups.  Should the offer work, the perception of moral victory goes to Europe since it made the offer in the first place.

 

The African partners on the other hand get branded in the eyes of the world fears as hapless.

 

It is, therefore, predictable that African countries will eventually sign the EPA.  Losing the raw material market access in Europe or a portion of it is one unbearable reason.  And there is also the silent possibility of missing out on yearly budget subventions that some African countries receive and have come to expect from Europe over the years as another pressure point.

 

Not signing the EPA will mean endangering all the above.  The Europeans know this.  They will use the possible predicaments to divide all.  Those who do not join may lose their markets to others on the continent in due course.  And each country will be suspicious of the other.  Africa will, therefore, continue to remain divided and weak - a perfect arrangement for the EU overall.

 

The EU can count on many on the continent to opt for the EPA agreement, even if the offer brings up the perception of a colonial arrangement. Trading with Africa will continue in their favor.

 

Walter Rodney wrote in his book (How Europe Underdeveloped Africa) that “Europeans took the initiative and went to other parts of the world...What was called international trade was nothing but the extension overseas of European interests.”

 

And as Kwame Nkrumah warned, Africans have been the “hewers of wood and drawers of water” for Europe. And it was this relationship, he said, that kept Africa poor and assured the constant transfer of wealth from this continent to that of Europe. The case will not be different under the EPA.

 

Nkrumah warned that independence was only “the prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs…. unhampered by crushing and humiliating neo-colonial controls and interference.”

 

This statement made a lot of sense back then and it should still do.  

 

On a continent where used items from abroad already have more value than locally manufactured ones. the EPA, contrary to opinions held by its promoters, will impair further Africa’s ability to grow its industrial capacity - the only true base for fast development.  

 

But unfortunately, the EPA will come to pass – signed, sealed, and delivered to disadvantage the future of Africa.

 

E. Ablorh-Odjidja, Publisher www.ghanadot.com, Washington, DC, May 23, 2009

Permission to publish:  Please feel free to publish or reproduce, with credits, unedited.  If posted on a website, email a copy of the web page to publisher@ghanadot.com. Or don't publish at all.

 

 

 

 

 

More commentaries/font>

 

Invitation from the CID to ex- speaker unnecessary -Minority leader

Accra, May 26, Ghanadot - The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has asked the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to stop prying in the matter involving the former Speaker of Parliament, Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Huges...More
  Government urged to adopt lifelong education policy

Accra, May 22, Ghanadot/GNA - Professor Emmanuel James Flolu, Dean of the School of Creative Arts, University of Education, Winneba, has urged government to adopt a national policy on lifelong education in order to integrate existing formal and non-formal educational systems into a unified system...
More
   

Mills to announce major policies for the North tomorrow

Accra, May 26, Ghanadot - President John Evans Atta Mills will be paying a four-day visit to the Upper East and West Regions this week. The visit is scheduled between May 27 and 30.....More

 

Indiana University students visit Ghana

Accra, May 21, Ghanadot - Some students of Indiana University in the United States of America are in Ghana to tour some of the historical sites in the country and also learn more about its culture. The tour according to the visiting students....More

   
  ABC, Australia
FOXNews.com
The EastAfrican, Kenya
African News Dimensions
Chicago Sun Times
The Economist
Reuters World
CNN.com - World News
All Africa Newswire
Google News
The Guardian, UK
Africa Daily
IRIN Africa
The UN News
Daily Telegraph, UK
Daily Nation, East Africa
BBC Africa News, UK
Legal Brief Africa
The Washington Post
BusinessInAfrica
Mail & Guardian, S. Africa
The Washington Times
ProfileAfrica.com
Voice of America
CBSnews.com
New York Times
Vanguard, Nigeria
Christian Science Monitor
News24.com
Yahoo/Agence France Presse
 
  SPONSORSHIP AD HERE  
 
    Announcements
Debate
Commentary
Ghanaian Paper
Health
Market Place
News
Official Sites
Pan-African Page
Personalities
Reviews
Social Scene
Sports
Travel
 
    Currency Converter
Educational Opportunities
Job Opening
FYI
 
 
 
Send This Page To A Friend:

The Profile Africa Media Group