The Brexit impact on Ghana: Only time will tell

Last  Thursday, the United Kingdom gave the world a rude shock when it voted to exit the European Union (EU) after the country had been a part of the union since 1975.

Some have even equated the landmark decision to the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989.

However, those who have closely followed events in that country are not the least surprised that the Leave EU won by 52 per cent  to 48 per cent, with a referendum turnout of 71.8 per cent, the highest in a UK election since 1992.

Since the vote, the world has been analysing the impact of the delicate decision by the UK. While some have played down on its global impact, others hold a contrary view.

With this outcome, the world would have to either rewrite its relationship with both the UK and the EU bloc or maintain it. 

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, has already indicated that although the outcome of the referendum has implications for Britain’s relations with other countries around the world, including Ghana, it is too early to measure what those implications may be.

As the High Commissioner indicated in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra, it would not be easy to predict what those future relations would look like in detail, but the Daily Graphic hopes the grey areas that will emerge will be addressed sooner than later.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh, has also asserted that the impact will not be felt immediately. 

Already, the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, has decided to step aside because of non-conformity with his ideals and reports say pressure is mounting on the opposition leader to also step down.

Naturally, there will be many unanswered questions on the minds of many Ghanaians as the Brexit has landed the UK in unchartered territory.

For us in Ghana, however, fear is not the worrying issue but how, in the midst of this decision by the people of Great Britain, the nations can work together to complement one another to make the world a better place to live in.

Until the Brexit, the EU offered many lessons to other regions, including Africa, whose leaders have been trying to build regional economic blocs after the EU model.

Now that the UK has left the EU, the Daily Graphic wonders whether our African leaders would still muster the courage to push for integration.

In the West African sub-region, for instance, although ECOWAS has been in existence since 1975, the protocols are being abused by government officials, especially border personnel.

Until the Leave Vote by Great Britain and threats by some leaders in other European countries to leave the EU, Europe appeared to be the most peaceful and attractive destination for trade and human interaction.

Unfortunately, the Leave Vote will disturb the status quo and the foundation of the EU architecture will never remain the same.

Although the future is not clear, it is our hope that the decision by the UK to leave the EU will not affect bilateral ties, particularly trade and other agreements, with Ghana.

Though there will be implications for Ghana, we cannot imagine its magnitude on us, immigrants, global relations and even the Commonwealth. 

Only time will tell.