The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) in collaboration with Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) and Joy Business News has organized a virtual sensitization seminar on the African Continental free trade area (AFCFTA) on 24th February, 2021 at the Ghana Shippers House.
In a speech read by Dr. John Asiedu on behalf of the Minister designate for Trade and Industry Mr Alan Kyerematen, he explained that the government had established the key national institution structures to oversee the implementation of the AfCTA initiative locally.
According to him, for Ghanaian business to benefit from the initiative, there was an urgent need to create awareness among regulatory authorities, including the Customs Division of Ghana the Revenue Authority (GRA), economic operators, exporters, as well as logistics companies.
The President of the GNCCI, Mr Clement Osei-Amoako delivering the open address said the seminar was under the theme “AfCFTA: Adopting the Right Business Strategies to fully Benefit” and that was to facilitate learning and sharing of ideas and experiences to equip the business community with the requisite knowledge and insight to fully benefit from AfCFTA. He stated that the private sector’s interest and support to the AfCFTA has been phenomenal based on the premise that production and distribution of goods and services were largely undertaken by the private sector.
Mr Osei-Amoako said that the Chamber was excited about the journey of opening up new market access opportunities to drive the needed economic growth and the transformation of the African continent. The business community stands to benefit from the removal of tariffs on goods and services as well as the elimination of non-tariff barriers which hamper trade between countries, he added
Ms. Benonita Bismarck, Chief Executive of GSA on her part commended the collaboration between the three institutions for their effort in organizing this important seminar for Ghanaian businessmen to understand the protocols of AfCFTA and to take advantage of its opportunities.
She said her outfit is mandated to protect and promote the interest of shippers in Ghana and it is committed to partnering stakeholders to ensure shippers across the country are educated and sensitized to maximize the full potential of AfCFTA.
Presentations were made on Fitting the Business Strategy into the AfCFTA Strategy by Mr. David Ofosu Dorte (AB& David); Market Access and Opportunities by Mr. Gerald Nyarko- Mensah (Consultant on Export), Rules of Origin by Feehin Akoto GRA -Custom Division and AfCFTA Protocols by Mr. Anthony Nyame – Baafi and Challenges and
Opportunities for Pharmaceutical Industries under AfCFTA by Ernest Bediako Sampong (C.E.O, Ernest Chemist ltd)
