Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has entreated the newly commissioned African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) technical working groups to bring their expertise to bear so as to ensure that Ghana’s interest in the continental trade arrangement is protected and advanced.
Her advice follows Ghana’s successful bid to host the Secretariat of the AfCFTA which resulted in the formation of the group comprising technocrats, experts and stakeholders in trade to develop an effective implementation of Ghana’s National Programme of Action to significantly improve Intra-African Trade.
Speaking at an official inaugural ceremony in Accra, the Foreign Affairs Minister charged the various groups to work in the interest of the nation.
“You’ve been selected from your respective institutions to be part of these groups by virtue of your intellectual and technical competences. The country is, therefore, depending on you to ensure that Ghana is not short-changed in this arrangement and that Ghana’s trade with the rest of the continent is beneficial to her citizens” Ms Botchwey noted.
“It behoves on all of us to put our best foot forward in our dealings with the nations that have reposed confidence in us and our national institutions to work with the AfCTA Secretariat. Let me assure you of the commitment of my Ministry to support the work of these Technical Groups to ensure that they deliver on their mandates,” she reiterated.
Meanwhile the African trade agreement is expected to take off in July 2020 and after the just-ended 33rd AU Assembly, former South African Head of Mission to the World Trade Organization and South Africa’s Chief Negotiator in the African Continental Free Trade Area negotiations, was elected as the first Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Source: Henry George Martinson/radiogoldlive.com
