Ghana-UK Joint Statement: Ghana-UK Trade Partnership Agreement

Press release

Ghana-UK joint statement on a new interim Ghana-UK Trade Partnership Agreement

On 31 December 2020, Ghana and the UK announced that they had reached a consensus on the main elements of a trade agreement that would replicate the effects of the trade relationship between Ghana and the UK prior to the end of the Transition Period following the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. They stated their intention to finalise the text of the agreement to reflect progress made in relation to rules of origin, cumulation arrangements, time-bound commitments, provisions for development cooperation and commitments to human rights and good governance.

Today Ghana and the UK are pleased to announce that they have finalised negotiations on a new Interim Ghana-UK Trade Partnership Agreement. This Agreement will provide for duty free and quota free access for Ghana to the UK market and preferential tariff reductions for UK exporters to the Ghanaian market.

The Agreement will enter into effect following the completion of relevant internal procedures required in both Ghana and the UK.

The new Agreement reaffirms the deep interest of both Ghana and the UK to strengthen their longstanding trade and economic relationship. The Agreement also reflects the importance of integration between the West African States within the context of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and amongst African States within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Agreement further underscores their shared ambition to enhance relations between the UK, ECOWAS and African States more broadly.

Published 4 February 2021

United Kingdom and Peru hold dialogue about future of trade

Lima, 4 February 2021 – Today, the Minister of State for Trade Policy from the United Kingdom, Greg Hands and the Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Claudia Cornejo met virtually for the inaugural UK-Peru trade dialogue.

They welcomed the new UK- Andean Countries Trade Agreement that came into force in January and UK formal notification of its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

They welcomed the UK’s newly independent trade policy as a unique opportunity to further cooperate in areas such as agribusiness, green technologies and protecting the environment and agreed to a joint action plan to expand trade in digital products and services, including initiatives on sustainable agricultural and e-commerce.

Ministers agreed to work together to address global challenges such as COVID-19 recovery and climate change. They highlighted the continued role of free and open trade in ‘building back better’ and economic recovery for small and medium enterprises.

They looked forward to COP26 and role of trade in creating a low-carbon future. The UK government has committed £11.6 bn over the next five years to support developing countries combat climate change through the International Climate Finance (ICF), including £3bn to support nature and biodiversity initiatives. The UK will work with Peru in four ICF programmes for the next 3 years on halting deforestation, green finance and low carbon development.

They agreed on the need to on maintaining the highest environmental standards, and to increase collaboration on promoting the production and export of goods that protect biodiversity, and to address barriers to market for clean technologies, particularly in the energy sector.

Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands said:

I was pleased to meet with Minister Cornejo and representatives from the Peruvian government today to continue strengthening our trade and investment ties. We look forward to boosting trade and investment within the framework of advancing clean and sustainable growth by creating new business opportunities in sectors such as services, technology and sustainable goods.

The United Kingdom sees Peru as a vital partner in the Latin America region and I look forward to working more closely together as the UK seeks to join CPTPP and we look to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The Ministers also agreed on the need to accelerate efforts to remove any existing barriers to trade and investment, which create imbalances in bilateral trade, and acknowledged that a double taxation agreement will improve business activities in both countries.

They highlighted the importance of research collaboration to improving prosperity, particularly through the Newton Fund and the Global Challenges Research Fund.

Both Ministers committed to work together to help maintain free and fair trade as a driver of prosperity and recovery, including through reform and modernization of global trade institutions.

Government publishes research into corrosive substances

News story

The government has today published research into the motivations for carrying and using acid and other corrosives as a weapon.

The research, which was commissioned in 2017 and carried out by the University of Leicester, delivers on a commitment made in the 2018 Serious Violence Strategy. It will help the government and law enforcement to continue cracking down on the use of acids and corrosives in crime.

The study was carried out using police data on corrosive-based crimes, interviews with convicted offenders and expert practitioners, and provides insight into the best approach around enforcement and prevention.

It found that:

offenders carried corrosive substances for different reasons, including to commit criminal acts and as a result of peer pressure
some were regular carriers of corrosives, while others used corrosives in the heat of the moment, such as during confrontations between gangs

The report made several proposals around prevention and enforcement of corrosive-based crimes, many of which the government and policing partners are already taking action upon.

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said:

I’m determined to rid our streets of the scourge of violent crime, including acid attacks, which leave terrible physical and emotional scars on their victims.

This research will support the efforts of the government and law enforcement to bear down on criminals, deliver safer streets, and reduce crime.

Dr Matt Hopkins, Associate Professor in Criminology at the University of Leicester, said:

We are pleased to see this study published as it represents the first research to engage with offenders in order to identify reasons for carrying and using corrosives in crime. It represents a step forward in this area and forms a platform on which future research can be built.

Not only does it paint a clear picture of the patterns of corrosive use in the UK and why offenders may choose to carry and use corrosives, it also represents a step forward and a platform on which future research can be built.

We have also identified a number of areas for future preventative strategies.

To address the issue of violent crime, including corrosive-based crime, the government has:

introduced the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, which bans the possession of dangerous and offensive weapons in private – including corrosive substances
banned the sale and delivery of corrosive products to under 18s and made it an offence to possess a corrosive substance in a public place
launched a campaign to recruit 20,000 additional police officers to fight crime – 6,620 of whom are already in post
committed £176.5 million to the Serious Violence Fund over 2 years to bolster the police response in 18 areas most affected by violence in England and Wales

Published 4 February 2021

UK is helping indigenous communities in Peten to protect and use their ancient traditional medicine

World news story

The British Ambassador in Guatemala, Nick Whittingham, met with the Mayan Council of Indigenous Spiritual Leaders of the Southern Peten, ACGERS, who are using the benefits of ancient traditional medicine as part of a UK funded project.

The project called “Green Health” is researching medical use of biodiversity (based on indigenous healthcare practices), to develop mechanisms protecting this knowledge, and consider how to use this to increase the health and prosperity of less favoured groups in Guatemala.

Other partners of the project are the University College London (UCL), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) and the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). Originally funded with more than 3 million quetzals for three years, the project recently received an extra 500,000 quetzals allocation to fight the impact of COVID-19 and help communities to overcome economic hurdles associated to it.

Additional funding will help the Mayan Council of Elders to acquire the tools to protect many species that are at risk due to habitat loss and degradation. It will also help villagers to obtain additional income by gathering seeds of local species through forest transect walks; planting and nurturing of seeds in a local ethnobotany garden; and documenting traditional medicine used for respiratory syndromes.

This will create effective synergies between urgent income generation and participatory research to understand the role of traditional Q’eqchi’ knowledge in biodiversity use for medicinal as well as food security strategies. Ambassador Whittingham walked along the Mayan spiritual leaders in some of these special biodiversity areas, in Poptun, Peten.

Published 4 February 2021

A31 cash boosts cycling and pedestrian access to Ringwood street

The work, which is being carried out by Hampshire County Council on behalf of Highways England, will improve safety and accessibility for non-motorists and will begin the process that will ultimately see access from West street to the A31 closed.

At the same time, the footpath will be widened along the north side of the street, and a new footway built over the ‘brick bridge.’ Highways England is planning further footway and cycleway improvements to coincide with its main scheme to improve capacity on the A31.

Funding for the scheme comes from a dedicated pot of money within Highways England, known as designated funds. Additional funding can be applied for from this pot and used alongside the main scheme to make potential improvements that will have a positive impact on local communities.

To keep disruption to a minimum for residents of Ringwood, Highways England is bringing forward the work planned for West Street. This much anticipated work will now start on Monday 15 February and is scheduled to finish by the end of July 2021. The work includes:

Widening the footpath along the west side of West Street to improve accessibility for cyclists and walkers
New kerbs and environmental planting
Building a new footpath over the ‘brick bridge’
Widening the footpath over the ‘old Stony’ bridge
Introducing new priority give way signs at both bridges to accompany the new and improved footpaths over them
Resurfacing both bridges
Laying new electrical cable along the length of West Street in advance of the main A31 work.
Highways England will be putting up signage on the A31 to advise drivers of the West Street closure.

Highways England Project Manager for the A31 improvement scheme, Daniel Kittredge said:

We are delighted to be able to fund this work along West Street and improve cycling and pedestrian access for the residents of Ringwood. We have worked hard with Hampshire County Council to cover as much work as possible at this time and minimise disruption to local residents.

It’s exciting to see this work get underway, which will not only improve the environment of West Street but also enable us to complete essential cable diversions which is necessary to get ready for the main A31 upgrade work.

Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, said:

Hampshire County Council has been working collaboratively with New Forest District Council and Ringwood Town Council to develop a programme of small-scale measures that support the Ringwood Town Access Plan. These measures will help improve pedestrian and cycle safety, while ensuring good access to the town remains after the closure of West Street.

The work taking place on West Street are weather dependent and may need to be re-arranged at short notice. If this is the case Hampshire County Council will update signage on site and also the Hampshire County Council website.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.