The National Youth Association for Food Security (NaYAFS) in collaboration with the National Alliance for Food Security, Thursday organised a one-day training for National Assembly members on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Madam Dedie Amanor-Wilks, the international director for West and Central Africa, ActionAid, said many Africans who work on the civil society sector believe that the greatest ideas on African unification exist not at the level of the AU or the RECS, as important as they are, but in the villages and communities where most people reside. She said: "We have to do more to bring them into the project to develop a blueprint for African unification through regional integration." 
 
She added: "We must be vigilant to that. EU's interest in having the EPAs signed is not intended to block the economic partnerships that are developing with China and other emerging Asian economic powers. Let us instead recognise that the project to unite Africa is not a new project. It was initiated by the fathers and mothers of our independence in Africa, let us recognise that the project; "Unite Africa" is difficult and requires our total commitment."
 
Speaking on behalf of the minister of Trade, Industry and Employment, Abdoulie Jammeh, thanked NaYAFS for organising such a workshop for the country's lawmakers and assured that his Ministry will work hand-in-glove with the NAMs and civil society for the betterment of the country. He explained that the EPAs are intended to benefit all Ecowas countries. Honourable Babanding KK Daffeh and Honourable Cherno C Cham, representing the minority and the majority leaders of the National Assembly respectively, expressed similar sentiments, and added that the negotiation of the EPAs should not be a rushing process. They also expressed hope that the NaYAFS' sensitisation process will be a success.