CONCEPT NOTE ON EJN PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES
Introduction and Background
As an introduction to an issues-
The Economic Justice Network (EJN) is a national platform of civil society organisations devoted to equitable national economic development. It is made up of trade unions, farmers’ organisations, associations from industry and services, women’s rights and equality organisations, faith-
It thrives for equity, socio-
EJN’s lecture series is in response to calls from institutions and citizens groups for the political debate and campaigns to move away from politics of insults and character assassination to issues of economic and social importance to the ordinary man and woman on the street. Many people are concerned about decent jobs and incomes, quality housing, access to quality education and health among others.
The lecture series will cover three thematic areas across the country in the form of zones:
Trade Policy and Industrial Development-
Jobs and manufacturing-
Agriculture and Rural Development-
1.1 Trade Policy and Industrial Development-
The first lecture will centre on the search for a trade policy which is appropriate for Ghana’s development challenges. Through the critique of the EPAs, it will show how the mainstream trade policy framework condemns Ghana to the trade regime that breeds Ghana’s woes, including its import-
The EPAs, as indicated, are being negotiated between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP). The negotiations, which commenced at the all-
This development has created more fault lines on the agenda of integration and the transformation of the whole sub-
1.2 Jobs and Manufacturing-
Ghana and other African countries have a huge task of resolving the unemployment challenge especially on the youth front. According to the Economic Outlook for Africa for 2012, young people aged between 15 and 25 represent more than 60 per cent of the Africa’s total population and account for 45 per cent of the total labour force. Unlike other developing regions, sub-
At the moment the problem of unemployment is a strategy of development which has over the past decades produced job-
The problem with this growth is that it continuous to be based largely on primary commodity exports. This has been at the expense of industrialization, especially manufacturing. This lecture will explore a strategy for resurrecting Ghana’s manufacturing prospects as a route to job-
1.3 Rural Development and Agriculture-
Agriculture has special features for poverty reduction and rural development especially in Northern Ghana. Needless to say, Ghana is an agricultural based economy. The sector constitutes the main activity to which the bulk of Ghana's labour and land resources are put. While it employs approximately 54% of the economically active population between 15 and 64, rising to about 70% in rural areas, agriculture currently contributes 36% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This gap between contribution to GDP and scale of employment derives from the fact most of the output is produced by small holder farmers on family operated farms using rudimentary technology. The situation these rural small-
This lecture addresses the policy issues involved in this situation. It will be addressed through the prism of the rural communities of Northern Ghana, where all the challenges of rural poverty are most sharply experienced. Key policy initiatives taken in this context, Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) will be examined from the perspective of their adequacy or otherwise.
3.0 Proposed Partners
It is a collaboration between the Economic Justice Network (EJN) of Ghana and Citi Fm and affiliate stations across the country. Citi Fm will broadcast the lectures live.
4.0 Details on the Lectures
Southern Zone-
Speaker: Dr. Yao Graham, Coordinator of TWN-
Chair: Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe of the Christian Council (tbc)
Date: 27th September 2012 (Global EPA Day)
Venue: GNAT HALL
Time: 10am-
Middle Zone –Kumasi
Speaker
Chair/Host: TUC
Venue
Time
Date: 4th October 2012
Northern Zone-
Speaker: Charles Abugri (tbc)
Chair/Host: SEND Ghana/ISODEC Tamale
Date 10th October 2012
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