TRADE and LIVELIHOOD

As a promoter of social justice and fundamental human rights, especially of the poor and those without organized voice and influence, ISODEC works to mitigate the effects of government policies in the trade and agricultural sector on the poor, especially the farmers and traders.

In January 2005 a number of small farmer and producer groups and NGOs came together and resolved to collaborate to try and stem further deterioration of their livelihoods and also of workers of agro-based concerns. This initiative led to the birth of the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition (GTLC) which was convened by ISODEC.

However, this initiative was not only nationally-based.  The coalition realized that like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said, “the independence of Ghana is meaningless without the total liberation of Africa”– (paraphrased) working together with farmers and the governments of other bordering countries (West African Community) will be beneficial to farmers and the government of Ghana.

The idea for a West African community goes back to President William Tubman of Liberia, who made the call in 1964. An agreement was signed between Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in February 1965, but this came to nothing. In April 1972, General Gowon of Nigeria and General Eyadema of Togo re-launched the idea, drew up proposals and toured 12 countries, soliciting support for their plan from July to August 1973. A meeting was then called at Lomé from 10-15 December 1973, which studied a draft treaty. This was further examined at a meeting of experts and jurists in Accra in January 1974 and by a ministerial meeting in Monrovia in January 1975. Finally, 15 West African countries signed the treaty for an Economic Community of West African States (Treaty of Lagos) on 28 May 1975. The protocols launching ECOWAS were signed in Lomé, Togo on 5 November 1976.

Thirty-two (32) years after the creation of the ECOWAS, with its aim to accelerate economic integration and to increase political co-operation, its biggest challenge is the interaction with its people in ensuring the building of confidence and trust and in the process allaying any fears that hinder collaboration and the implementation of the protocols. As a result, the ECOWAS subregion is yet to meet the development aspirations of the millions of its citizens and the objectives of its founding members.

Two years ago, therefore, ISODEC, the convener for the Ghana Trade Livelihoods Coalition (GTLC), with a registered membership of one hundred and six (106) farmer and producer groups and community based organisations, initiated a campaign agenda to contribute to speeding up the integration process through increased interaction and collaboration between farmers, producers and NGOs in Ghana and Burkina Faso. The strategy was to initially create a platform for dialogue and discussion on common issues and through that build confidence and trust for further collaboration by involving other citizens groups and government officials of both countries.

In this regard and in collaboration with a number of organisations in Burkina, led by Organisation pour le Renforcement des Capacités de Developpement (ORCADE) some events have been organised:

Conferences have been held in Ghana and Burkina Faso in March and April 2007 respectively on the need for collaboration between Ghana and Burkina Faso farmers.  From there, two sub regional durbars have been held at Navrongo in the Upper East region with the participation of our colleagues from Burkina Faso.   The process continued in 2008 with a durbar of farmers and producers of both countries which was organised at Po in the Burkina Faso on the 19th June 2008.

However, the coalition has realized that the consequences of unsustainable economic policies such as the Structural Adjustment Programmes and the more eminent threat of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs) being negotiated between the European Union and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries have frustrated and would continue to frustrate these efforts, unless we as a people commit to enabling the policies and cultures that unite and strengthen the sub region towards a common destiny.

For instance, the EPAs in full operation would not only limit government’s power to determine the direction of development but also greatly undermine efforts of regional integration as well as south-south cooperation. The National Treaty and Most Favoured Nation clauses that are respectively imbedded and being lobbied to be included in the full EPA are some of the unabashed signals.

Objectives of the Trade and Livelihood sector

i. To work for the removal of barriers such as the uncontrolled and forced liberalization that hinder high and sustainable production and marketing for farmers and other producer groups.

ii. To mobilize farmers and producers organisations and other civil society organisations to advocate for adequate and favourable government support to the agricultural sector.

iii. To advocate for the appropriate allocation and utilization of public and private resources to increase productivity to ensure food and income security, good quality yields and production.

iv. To advocate for the democratic participation of producer groups and other civil society organisations in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national trade and agricultural policies and plans and their management.

v. To influence national, regional and international trade policies and programmes to ensure equitable rules for developing countries.

vi. To work with like-minded organisations in particular the West Africa sub region to advocate and campaign on trade and agriculture.

vii. To promote regional integration in the West African sub- region

The Trade And Livelihood Sector believes in economic justice and seeks to let the world understand that  “Eating Rice is More than just FILLING THE STOMACH...”

Also, as part of its advocacy, together with civil society groups in Ghana and abroad, pressure has been mounted on IMF.  This has compelled them to explain its role in the reversal of Ghana government's decision to increase tariffs on imported rice and poultry products under ACT 641. In a letter dated August 2, 2005, signed by the External Relations Director, Thomas Dawson, and addressed to the U.K. anti-poverty group, Christian Aid (U.K.), the Fund explained that the decision to suspend the implementation of the policy was made by the government of Ghana on its own "after consultations with Fund staff".

     “Eating Rice is More than just FILLING THE STOMACH...”    Unknown