Abuja — The European Union has offered to make available 6.5 billion Euros for financing programme initiatives in West African countries under the Economic Partnership Agreement Development Programme over a four-year period (2010-2014).
This came just as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), yesterday said the economy of the countries in the region has witnessed some measure of growth.
The Authority of ECOWAS acknowledged the EU gesture in a communique issued at the end of its thirty-eighth Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS held last Friday in Sal, Republic of Cape Verde, under the chairmanship of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is also Chairman of the group.
The sub-regional organisation underscored the need to mobilise additional resources and to meet the region's priorities and make them available for all West African countries.
It also stressed the need for early conclusion of an agreement with the EU within the context of a larger dimension of economic development.
"This will allow the West Africa region to find the uniqueness of its trade regime vis-à-vis Europe. It stated that this conclusion is essential to a compromise on market access, adequate financing for the EPA Development Programme (EPADP) and resolution of persistent points of divergence.
The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government asked the negotiators from both regions to agree on a market access offer based on a trade opening rate that safeguards the region's tax revenue and development capacity. The communique, while stressing the need for sufficient and appropriate level of the EPADP financing, which is the main tool of the EPA development dimension, re-affirmed the need to conserve the independent resources of regional organisations
The authority had in its assessment of the economic trend in member countries noted that there has been a partial recovery of regional growth during the first half of 2010.
It urged member states to continue their efforts in consolidating these gains notably through the strengthening of economic reforms, acceleration of macroeconomic convergence and taking ownership of regional programmes by translating them into national development plans.
The Heads of State and Government also reviewed political and security situation in the region, including the process for the consolidation of democracy in member states and expressed concern on the violation of constitutional legality in some countries.
In particular, they regretted that not much progress was realised in the fight against impunity in Guinea Bissau, including the resurgence in drug trafficking.
To this end, the Heads of State and Government expressed opposition to the appointment of Brigadier General Antonio Indjai, under whose watch the coutry was plunged into the current crisis.
ECOWAS leaders urged the Guinea Bissau authorities to create the necessary environment that would mobilise the international community to support the crucial Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP).
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If those countries are wise - they will steer clean of this ruse - a come-on - which they ought to know well by now.
[Of course, happy-go-lucky tinhorn dictator Obadluck will go for the usurious money - so that he can plan even more grandiose displays of pomp and self-importance - after the manner of his fellow traveller Jean-Bédel Bokassa.
Dim. At least prostitutes are aware that the money does NOT come 'free' (of debauched debasing assault). But then prostitutes need the money. Why does fabulously resource-rich Nigeria need to prostitute/compromize itself? Gosh! It should be the one doing it to the likes of that beggar country of virulent parasites - UK!
??The land of the dimwits??]
If outside money was really going to help you, it would have done so long ago. Money added to an economy competes with the money already there, and is most readily used for import, increasing your dependency. You need to use your own labor to fix your troubles. Build yourselves sewage treatment plants that produce fuel. Clean your lakes and rivers of weeds and silt. USE YOUR LABOR. It is all around you, looking for work.