President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized the need for African nations to trade more among themselves and invest in infrastructure to facilitate economic growth.
He stressed that strengthening intra-African trade and developing key infrastructure will enhance regional integration and economic self-sufficiency.
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to fully supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), emphasizing the country’s dedication to fostering intra-Africa trade and economic integration.
He stated that Ghana has been at the forefront of promoting regional integration and trade in Africa.
President Mahama underscored Ghana’s dedication to fostering economic cooperation and development across the continent.
According to him, by supporting the AFCFTA, Ghana aims to increase trade, investment, and economic growth, not only within the country but also across Africa.
He stated that Ghana is working to enhance trade relationships with other African countries, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.
President Mahama made this statement when Comoros President Azali Assoumani visited him at the Jubilee House.
He called on African countries to invest in upgrading trade infrastructure, including ports, roads, and railways, to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and services.
“We Africans must learn to trade more amongst each other, that is why Ghana takes seriously the honor given us by Africa to host the secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and that is why Ghana is doing everything to support the secretariat.”
“But goods cannot move without the appropriate infrastructure. Railways, aviation, maritime transport and so far the rules for trade are between us and our colonial masters and so our trade infrastructure is not between ourselves”
President Mahama added that “the railways take us to port so that we can export to Europe, the roads are not between ourselves, the maritime transport, if you something from Ghana to Comoros, it might go Europe before it comes to Comoros.”
He stated that “so even though we’ve signed the protocol on African Continental Free Trade, we also must look at developing the infrastructure so that we can trade more amongst ourselves”
Meanwhile, Comoros President Azali Assoumani believes that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) is an important vehicle that could help Africa achieve its potential.
