The Ghana Export Promotion Authority has urged Ghanaian businesses to take advantage of the market opportunities to be provided by the Africa continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). GEPA adds that Ghana being chosen to host the secretariat of the AfCFTA should also encourage Ghanaian businesses to be competitive.
The main aim of the Africa continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to boost intra-African trade while boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market.
Last week, Ghana beat off competition from Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Senegal at the 12thAfrican Union Extraordinary Summit in Niamey and Niger, to win the privilege to establish a secretariat in Ghana.
The country has committed 10 million dollars for the setting up of the Secretariat.
In an interview with Citi Business News at the 3rd national Export Development Strategy Formulation Workshop, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GEPA, Samuel Dentu, urged businesses to embrace the opportunities associated with hosting the secretariat.
“As you may have already heard, Ghana has been chosen to host the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area. While congratulating ourselves for this feat made possible of our Excellency the President Nana Akufo-Addo, we must also brace ourselves to take advantage of the market opportunities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Board Chairman of GEPA, Sandy Osei-Agyeman on his part said the government must review certain policies to make it simpler for exporters to also take advantage of the Continental Free Trade Area.