Catherine Afeku (2nd from left) and Dep. Trade Minister (3rd from right) with the Asantehene
OFFICIALS OF the National Coordination Office of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), have paid a courtesy call on Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The AfCFTA officials who were led by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei, were at the Manhyia palace to thank the Asantehene for the influential role he played in getting Ghana to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.
The entourage is currently in the Ashanti Regional capital to begin a nationwide regional conference on the implementation of the AfCFTA.
AfCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area, bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to create a single market for the continent.
The aim is to enable the free flow of goods and services across the continent and boost the trading position of Africa in the global market.
Speaking to the DAILY GUIDE, madam Asiamah-Adjei said, Ghana launched a national African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Policy Framework and Action in August to position businesses in the country to fully take advantage of AfCFTA.
“As a ministry, we have been able to set up the National Coordination Office which is supposed to coordinate every entrepreneur in Ghana who has any interest in being part of this AfCFTA export programme” she stated.
She commended the Asante monarch for taking key interest in promoting intra-African trade.
“If intra-European trade has risen to about 60 percent before, intra-Asian trade has also risen to about 60 percent before and intra-African trade is locked up around 20 percent then there is something that we are not doing right.”
Madam Asiamah-Adjei, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Akuapem North Constituency, observed that one major challenge facing African trade is the logistical support, adding that, promoting the intra-African trade, means promoting the opportunity for a shipping line to be dedicated to Africa to be touring the various shores of Africa and transporting goods from one location to another.
For her part, Head of Strategic Communications at AfCFTA, Catherine Ablema Afeku, commended the Asantehene for his depth of passion and leadership that shows his Pan African credentials about the continental free trade.
“You could tell his vision for Africa trading amongst itself was paramount and his depth of passion for Africans being economically independent,’ she noted.
In his brief remarks, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, admonished and encouraged his guests to ensure that they deepen their awareness creation so that entrepreneurs will maximize the benefits of the free continental trade.
FROM James Quansah & David Afum, Kumasi