Trump emergence could strengthen EU- Dr Asare

Adjunct Fellow of CES & Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Dr Bossman Eric Asare says the emergence of the American president Donald Trump may strengthen the resolve of the European Union to remain strong and united.

According to him, many European Union leaders are not happy with the style of governance of the American leader and would not want him dictating to them.

He made the comments during the third Lecture Series held by the Centre for European Studies (CES), Tuesday, at the Kofi Drah Conference Hall of the University of Ghana.

The theme for the lecture was “The State of the European Union Today” and was chaired by Ambassador Giovanni Favilli, Italian Ambassador to Ghana.

It was attended by over four hundred participants, mostly students, as well as representatives and ambassadors of the European Union member countries in Ghana, civil society, media practitioners, faculty.

Presenting the outcome of his research, Dr Eric Asare noted that despite its stature in global politics as a powerful bloc and its contribution to the socio-economic and political development of many Third World countries including Ghana, the EU has in recent times been shaken by several developments that call into question the prospects of the Union in the not too distant future.

According to him, BREXIT is a clear case of domestic political interests overriding regional or international interests.

Similarly, there is an obvious indication that some EU member countries are beginning to make demands that are counterintuitive to regionalism.

Despite these challenges Dr Asare said the EU still remains a formidable force in the global political economy.

In his brief remarks, Ambassador Giovanni Favilli, Italian Ambassador to Ghana commended the CES and its Director for the enthusiasm and hard-work in keeping and sustaining the activities of the EU in the minds members, adding, the EU in Brussels have also taken note of the establishment and vibrant activities of CES.

He stressed the importance of the theme for the lecture to the EU as a body.

He pledged to work with the EU-Delegation in Ghana to institutionalize support and collaboration between the CES, the University of Ghana as a whole and the EU-Member Countries in Ghana.

The Director of the CES, Prof Ransford Gyampo, said his outfit has been relentless in its diverse activities to inspire interest in European studies among faculty and students of the University of Ghana and beyond.

According to him CES, has prepared and distributed policy briefs to EU- Member countries as well as other key stakeholders and policy makers in Ghana on account of the many issues that emerged during the lecture series held by the Centre over the period.

Giving the importance of Europe in world politics, Prof Gyampo was of the belief and conviction that an understanding of what is happening in the EU in contemporary times would help put issues of European Studies in proper perspective and shape the knowledge of students.

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