COMING UP!> Ep.58 of "Africa in Focus" Show on 20 January, 2016: What happened in Kenya at the WTO?

Episode #58:

What happened at the WTO in Kenya?

In December 2015, the world met in Africa for the first time to discuss global trade .

The Kenyan capital Nairobi hosted the Tenth World Trade Organisation meeting, hoping to conclude the so-called Doha round of negotiations which conclusion had remained abortive since 2001.

In Ghana, there was scant coverage of the meeting as COP21 discussions on climate change seemed to virtually eclipse those on global trade.  

We want to use Episode 58 to discuss what exactly happened in Kenya at the WTO negotiations, and what the major outcomes are.

As far back as 2001 when the Doha Round commenced, the topic barely inspired the Ghanaian media. Fourteen years down the line, the inspiration, or lack thereof, has not spawned any novel excitement that would even trigger an important conversation on Africa's place in the global trading system.

Does Africa have its work already cut out for it in the trading system? And what about the tortuous question of Africa's agriculture? Was WTOMC10 a success for Africa -- or yet another pyrrhic victory?

Join me on 20 January at 14h05 as I interview two experts from civil society who were at the negotiations in Nairobi to demystify and unpack Africa's future in the global trading system.

Call us on the following numbers 

+233(0)289.000.931 // +233(0)289.931.000

Join us if you can between 2pm & 3pm on 20 January, 2016.

Guiding questions:

• why should Ghanaians be interested -- let alone concerned -- about what happened in Nairobi?
• What about new issues by the US and EU?
• How does Africa reconcile CFTA(scheduled for 2017) with Nairobi outcome?
• The Conference Chair described Nairobi outcome as "historic" in that it will deliver development. What do CSOs think?
• Does Africa still need the WTO?
• Is it not time Africa invested totally in the AU's CAADP, & created its own Africa Trade Organisation?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Sylvester Bagooro, Programme Officer, Third World Network-Africa

Ø  Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, General Agricultural Workers Union

Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter:http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14. Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus .

Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.

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AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 29 July, 2014: "Understanding the Forestry Sector in Ghana & Africa; and EcoTourism"

The Forestry sector is not necessarily a topic that elicits much excitement in general discourse of a country’s development. Compared to other sectors like international trade; FDI; labour issues; and education, one could be forgiven for thinking the latter elements are all that a country needs for its development.

But even if we were to forget the very important impact of climate change on our environment in general, and our forests in particular, none of us can ever forget the essence of forests to any country’s development. For some African countries, forests are a luxury, but in countries like Ghana, Kenya; and Rwanda, they are considered very important sectors. It is not only about the way in which they offer the potential of green belts for the countries. It is also about how forests offer climate regulation; water; and natural hazard prevention.

Let’s put it this way: consider a country without forests. One study in Kenya, for example, showed that deforestation causes a severe blow to its economy: in 2010, the total net cumulative effect of deforestation was a loss of nearly US$19 million, which had a huge multiplier effect on the rest of the economy. It further affects Kenya’s water yield and water-dependent sectors, as well as a range of other economic sectors, such as agric; forestry; and fishing; electricity and water; hotels and accommodation; and the public administration and defence sectors. Altogether, these contributed between 33-39% to GDP between 2000 and 2010.

There is no gainsaying that the link between a sustainable environment (where trees and forests abound) and Eco-tourism is clear. Add to this the claim by Forestwatch, a civil society organization working within the forestry sector, that Ghana has some of the most antiquated laws (some dating as far back as the 19^th century!), and one begins to wonder how Ghana can counter this perfect storm of challenges to developing tourism to the potential that countries like Kenya and Rwanda have been able to.

With the AU having signed an MOU with the UN World Tourism Organisation a few weeks ago to help use tourism to eradicate poverty in Africa, we will use the 11^th edition of AIF to interrogate the extent to which Africa can overcome its developmental challenges using best practices from selected countries on facilitating tourism that includes a recognition of improved sanitation and a sustainable environment.

To this end, we will be speaking to a representative from CSO working in the sector; representatives from the Forestry Commissions of Ghana; Kenya; and Rwanda; and speaking to a representative from a Ghanaian-based travel and tour company on what Ghana ought to do to take Ghana’s tourism potential to the heights that East African countries in Kenya and Rwanda have been able to do.

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Kwame Mensah, ForestWatch

Ø  Francis Agyemang, Commercial Director, Eurotours

Ø  Reverend David Kpelle, Manager of Commercial Development Unit/ Coordinator in charge of EcoPark Development Unit. Forestry Commission, Ghana

On the line:

Ø  Samuel Mawutor, ForestWatch/Civic Response  @ 13h50

Ø  Charity Muthonin, Kenya Forestry Service  @ 14h10

Ø  Telesphore Ngoga, Rwanda Development Board @ 14h30

Tune in at 13h10 GMT (1:00pm Ghana Time). We’re also streaming live  www.radioxyzonline.com.

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