South-south cooperation

CONCLUTION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSALS.

To conclude this essay on South-South cooperation, I must admit that it is an effective tool for the promotion of subregional and regional efforts towards integration as well as the mobilization and optimization of the use of resources for the benefit of less developed countries. This is one of the best ways through which Ghana and Morocco could exchange and share ideas toward a sustainable development and co-operation.

The study and analysis of the agreements on cooperation between Ghana and Morocco shows that, the republic of Ghana has a lot to gain through its cooperation with Morocco. Particularly in the areas mentioned in the agreements.

Morocco, on its part, could better benefit from the Ghanaian economy and its competitiveness to do more Business. Besides, Ghana's economy is counted among the most stable in Sub-Saharan Africa with a trend towards better growth and is proud to be ranked among the best in Africa with a good Climate for Business and also among the best 10 emerging countries for the period 2006/07^2(*).

Among some of the sectors that Ghana could derive the Moroccan expertise are Town and country planning, National Security, Water resource Management, energy, tourism, agriculture and Fisheries, and information technologies, just to mention a few.

Based on the following conclusions, I made certain recommendation. These include:

1) The creation of a special group/unit for cooperation between the republic of Ghana and the Kingdom of Morocco. This group would consist of Diplomats, University researchers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, investors, specialists on South-South cooperation (preferably representatives from UN's Special Unit for South - South cooperation), NGOs, and a representative or organizers of "Challenger^3(*)".A TV program designed and sponsored by the Moroccan TV channel called 2M. This is for the wonderful work they did during their TV show for young Moroccan graduates of various fields of studies. This means that, they would be able to propose and help young Ghanaian graduates in the same situation either through similar programs or through workshop trainings or discussion forums.

This special unit/group for cooperation will be in charge of the conception, the direction and the implementation and assure a follow up of all activities concerning the promotion and development of South-south cooperation between Ghana and Morocco.

2) I also recommend the implementation of a similar Program as «Mukawalati»^4(*). This program could help create jobs among young graduates in Ghana and thus help reduce the unemployment problem that the country is facing. This initiative could further be adjusted in other to correct some of the difficulties that the Moroccan Government faced during the implementation of this program. A technical and financial support could be requested from the United Nation's special unit on south-south cooperation, ECA, JICA or other International Organizations through Triangular cooperation since these organizations are specially created to support and promote activities concerning south-south cooperation.

I also mentioned some proposals that could help improve partnership projects between Ghana and Morocco.

1: Develop a plan of an action

It is necessary to put in place especially, after the signing of partnership programs or agreements a new process aimed at identify clearly the scope, objectives and the strategy to adopt, this could be done through a concerted dialogue on the contents of the program by Ghana and Morocco.

This new process will lead to a common awareness of both parties on the content of their partnership programs and through this process, it will be possible for both countries to reach a common awareness and a more detailed content of their partnership programs as well as agree on the most advanced method for their cooperative activities.

2: Identify clearly the roles of the two countries (Ghana and Morocco) in every cooperative agreement.

There is the need to clearly identify the roles and means of intervention of officials of both countries in the conception and implementation of partnership projects.

3: Mutually agreeing on the financial contribution of each party with regards to the financing of partnership projects between Ghana and Morocco.

It is clear that the economies of both countries are still developing; as a result, the financial burden related to projects within the framework of south-south cooperation is sometimes difficult to define. In this case, the formation of a special group for cooperation could help in the mobilization of funds to support to facilitate all activities of cooperation. Given the fact, a trust fund has specially been created by the United Nations to finance activities aimed at promoting south-south cooperation.

4: Provide information on the resources of both countries for the implementation of cooperation projects.

In order to derive the positive effects of South-South cooperation for both countries, it is necessary to mobilize the resources (natural and financial) of both countries to carry out cooperation projects. In this way, it is important to clearly convey all information on the availability of resources necessary for the implementation of all projects.

* ² According to a report by DOING BUSINESS 2008.

* ³ A Program designed to aide young graduates create and develop their own small businesses.

* ⁴ It is a government program that aims at the creation of 30 000 small businesses (with the Total amount of investment less than or equal to 250 000 DHS) in all the regions of Morocco by the year 2008.