Ghana may not be able to enter the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union by the June 30 deadline.

Ghana and its counterparts in the sub-region were expected to sign the new trade agreement by the end of this month, but there are indications the country may miss this.

Acting Director of the Trade and Industry Ministry, Emmanuel Awuri, told Joy Business on Monday government intends to review the initial agreement that was signed.

Mr Awuri maintained there were a “lot of contentious issues to be tackled” for which reason the country may delay in signing the pact.

He said ECOWAS officials have admitted the 30th June deadline for entering the agreement is not feasible.

The acting director however hinted that Ghana is still negotiating with its development partners and expressed hope the country might be able to honour the deadline.

Ghana initialed the interim agreement in December 2007 with the hope that the regional body ECOWAS will complete the negotiations and sign the full agreement by the middle of this year to replace the interim arrangements that had been entered into.


Story by Fiifi Koomson/Joy Business