|
* That all studies done on the EPA show that African countries will suffer higher collapse of the local productive capacities including industries and agriculture
* And that this will directly mean a loss in incomes in many farmer-households in Ghana and Africa, eventually causing increase in harmful effect on children’s well-being such as child labour, child prostitution, robbery, drug abuse, child trafficking
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We, children and citizens of African, want to know of the level consultations between the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of state on the EPA and its possible impact on their development programmes. We want to know of the level of involvement of Parliament on the EPA (not the civil society activities that have involved Parliament) and the number of our Honourable Parliamentarians who have informed and consulted even their constituency Party Leaders. We want to know of any political Party that has seriously taken pain to follow the EPA negotiation to help the make informed decisions in formulating their Party’s policies. They will very soon come to us with the manifestos and huge empty promises to change our fortunes for the better. The issues of the EPA have moved from the point of being economic to that of political will. We see possible failure of any development agenda that fails to factor into its formulation the impact of the EPA. African leaders are therefore near to failing us.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The African Children are crying for their governments to implement economic policies that will improve their well being and increase their future prospects of fighting poverty. They are also crying on their governments to push away all economic policies that spell doom for their well-being and prospects of fighting poverty. The EPAs is one of such bad policies which spells doom for their current welfare and prospects of escaping poverty since it will lead to a loss in revenue for their governments, leading to a loss in their spending on education, health, water and other services that affects their well-being. It will also lead to a loss in their parents’ employment and income, meaning they will not be able to provide for their essential needs thereby forcing them to engage in child labour, trafficked by their parents, prevented from accessing education, good health, proper nutrition etc.
We are calling on all African Children and Youth to join the celebration of the African Child and rally behind the ‘Stop EPA Campaign’ and drum their views on EPA into the ears of African Leaders.
KENNETH NANA AMOATENG
|
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
Writer Profile
KENNETH NANA AMOATENG
This user has not written anything in his panorama profile yet.
|
Comments
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|