Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening intra-African trade and advancing economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, made the commitment during a meeting with the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, Francisca Tatchoup Belobe.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between Ghana and the AU and finding practical ways to increase trade among African countries.
Tatchoup Belobe commended Ghana for its support for the AU’s continental integration agenda and called for stronger political commitment to ensure that existing trade policies translate into tangible benefits for businesses and citizens.
She said intra-African trade had not yet reached its full potential despite progress in establishing continental trade frameworks.
According to her, challenges including payment systems, currency constraints and other barriers to cross-border commerce continue to limit trade between African countries.
She called for practical measures to remove these obstacles and create a more integrated continental market.
The AU Commissioner also highlighted efforts by institutions such as Afreximbank to facilitate cross-border payments and sought Ghana’s views on strengthening such initiatives.
She further stressed the need to increase the participation of women and young entrepreneurs in regional and continental trade, describing their inclusion as important to sustainable economic growth.
Responding, Ofosu-Adjare said Ghana was ready to continue working with the AU to promote economic integration and maximise opportunities created by the AfCFTA.
She identified non-tariff barriers as one of the major challenges facing businesses seeking to trade across African borders.
The Minister said while tariffs could be incorporated into production costs, non-tariff barriers often created more complicated challenges for businesses trying to enter new markets.
She called on African countries to work towards a single continental market where goods, services, people and businesses can move more freely.
Ofosu-Adjare disclosed that Ghana had appointed a new coordinator for the AfCFTA national office to assess the country’s implementation of the agreement, identify gaps and develop a clearer strategy for maximising the benefits of continental trade.
She also said the government was working to prepare Ghanaian businesses, particularly women-owned enterprises, to access export markets through training, capacity building and other support programmes.
According to the Minister, products including gari, garments and other locally manufactured goods have potential in African markets, but stronger connections between Ghanaian producers and markets are needed.
She also called for greater cooperation among African countries on standards and conformity assessment to make it easier for goods to move across borders.
Ofosu-Adjare said Ghana’s experience with international standards and its standards institutions could contribute to efforts to establish mutual recognition of standards across Africa and reduce unnecessary trade restrictions.
She further said Ghana’s policies in sectors including pharmaceuticals, components manufacturing, textiles and garments, and agribusiness could complement the work of the AfCFTA Secretariat and help the country take advantage of increased continental trade.
Ghana, which hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat, remains committed to promoting the objectives of the continental trade agreement and encouraging wider participation by African countries, she said.
