Nana Addo Hands Over AfCFTA Building To AU Commission

Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo has officially commissioned and handed over the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Accra today, August 17.

This means that trading activities amongst African countries are expected to begin in January 202.

The agreement was set to be operational in June 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Speaking to the media during the presentation of credentials by the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, assured the Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, of Ghana’s unflinching support to the Secretariat in realising an ‘Africa Beyond Aid’ through trade. She said Ghana’s doors “are widely opened” to him.

“I wish to assure Your Excellency, Wamkele Mene, first Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, of the support of the Government of Ghana and, in particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, in the operationalisation of this African project for Africa’s development.”

She stated that as historic because of the realisation of “one of the aspirations of the founding fathers of the Organisation of the African Union,” to have African countries to explore their full potentials.”

The Minister asserted that the handing over ceremony of the AfCFTA Secretariat is “a reflection of our strong, collective resolve to push forward this African integration agenda.”

The AfCFTA agreement seeks to create a single African market of over a billion consumers with a total GDP of over $3 trillion; a figure that will make Africa the largest free trade area in the world.

There are currently 54 signatories to the trade agreement.

Signatory countries have committed to remove tariffs on 90 percent of goods and lift non-tariff barriers, among other things.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com