The Private Sector Operators In Ghana To Leverage On The Commitment By Government
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the National AfCFTA Coordination Office, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission (UNECA) has organized the 2nd National Conference on the African Continental Free Trade Area in Accra. The conference is held on the theme “Empowering Ghanaian Businesses to harness the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement under the framework of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS)”
The opening of the two days conference was well attended by the ranks and file of stakeholders including the first gentleman of the land, His Excellency the President of the republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and other high profile personalities of government and the diplomatic core.
In his speech, the president reiterated government’s commitment to assisting Ghanaian enterprises to take advantage of the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The President explained that the AfCFTA will ensure that trading amongst Member States on the continent will be duty-free and quota-free.
His Excellency the President indicated that Ghana has put in place the “One District One Factory” initiative; the development of new, strategic, anchor industries such as garments and textiles, pharmaceuticals, automobile assembly and component manufacturing; the programme for Planting for Food and Jobs; the Planting for Exports and Rural Development (PERD) initiative; the establishment of 67 Business Resource Centres, and 31 Technology Solution Centres; and the development of Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones, all of these initiatives are to help the nation harness to the fullest, the benefits of the AfCFTA.
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kyerematen who has played a key role from the inception of this African Free Trade Agreement extended a sincere appreciation to the efforts of the partners of the Ministry of Trade and Industry namely Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the National AfCFTA Coordination Office and the corporate sponsors – Absa Bank and Stanbic Bank for helping to put together the conference.
The minister in his speech, reminded participants that this is the 2nd National Conference on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. The first National Conference was organized from 19th to 21st August 2019, which was aimed at explaining to the general public, in particular the private sector operators, Government’s vision for the AfCFTA Agreement and how AfCFTA can boost the country’s resolve to achieving a ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’.
Hon Kyerematen touched on the comprehensive scope of AfCFTA, namely its four (4) key Components – The Framework Agreement which establishes the African Continental Free Trade Area; the Protocol on Trade in Goods; the Protocol on Trade in Services; and the Protocol on Rules and Procedures for Settlement of Disputes. He also indicate that the AfCFTA Agreement, when fully implemented has the potential to boost intra-African trade by as much as 52.3% by 2022 and this could double as non-tariff barriers are eliminated.
Hon Alan Kyerematen commended His Excellency the President for his tenacity and unwavering commitment to the operationalization of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana. He emphasized that the private sector operators in Ghana should leverage this commitment by Government of Ghana and position themselves to take full advantage of the AfCFTA Agreement.
The Minister for Trade and Industry on behalf of the President and the People of Ghana signed the Framework for the Grant Disbursement Between Government of Ghana and the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) Secretariat. This Grant is in fulfilment of Ghana’s pledge and is in line with the Host Country Agreement between the Government of Ghana and the African Union / AfCFTA. The secretariat which is hosted in Ghana will be in full operation from the 1st of January, 2021.