The European Union has finally reached a consensus on the Economic Partnership Agreement with ECOWAS.

ECOWAS countries by this agreement would soon have to open up 70 percent of their markets to EU goods, while having 100 percent access to the European market except for rice and sugar.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Haruna Iddrisu has said Ghana’s final position on the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union would largely be influenced by the decision of ECOWAS.

Following the consensus, it is likely Ghana would be compelled to sign the agreement with the EU.

But speaking in a meeting with Members of Parliament, Head of EU delegation to Ghana, Claude Maerten says it is up to the individual member countries to decide whether it will sign the pact.

He said heads of state of the European Union have agreed to commit 6.5 billion euros assistance to countries that will sign the agreement. The amount is also expected “to help the economic transformation of the region”, he said.

The engagement is part of efforts to meet policy-makers and the public on the fine details of the Economic Partnership Agreement.