An international relations expert, Dr. Yaw Gebge has described the heckling of EU delegation to Ghana as unfortunate and bad for Ghana's international image.

The head of EU delegation to Ghana Claude Maerten was on Thursday, heckled and escorted out of a stakeholders meeting on the Economic Partnership Agreement.

This was after some civil society groups at the meeting thought the meeting was meant for local stakeholders in the country. 

The meeting was to provide avenue for stakeholders including religious leaders, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations as well as those in academia to share their views and opinion which would inform government’s position moving forward.

But Dr. Gegbe tells JOY NEWS this could have negative implications for the country.

He suggested that the “militant” approach by the civil society groups was not well thought through. He said at the end of the day, the nation will go cup in hand begging this same group Claude Maerten represent for aid.

People need to very sober and reflective of pertinent issues when discussing subject of that nature, he counseled.

The Minister of Trade and Industry or Foreign Affairs may have to apologise to the EU representative in secret, he recommended.

“The issues about diplomatic relations have certain principles, protocols that go with it, and therefore you cannot just seize the hour and do whatever you want to do,” he said.

Meanwhile, Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Trade and Industry, at the forum said Ghana would be guided by the collective position of the Economic Community of West African States on the Economic Partnership Agreement.

The EPA agreement between the bloc and the European Union must be signed before October 1.

He said the West Africa-European Union  EPA would be well managed to ensure inclusive economic growth and development for Ghana.