AU delegation to assess Ghana’s preparedness to host ACFTA Secretariat

A delegation from the Africa Union Continental Free Trade area (CFTA) arrived in Accra on Monday to assess Ghana’s bid to host its Secretariat.

Ghana is among six other countries that have put in a bid to host the CFTA Secretariat, which aims at establishing a single market across the Continent.

The rest are eSwatini, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Madagascar.

Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Information Minister, received the 10-man delegation led by Ambassador Rosette Nyirinkindi Katungye, an Advisor on Regional Integration at the Bureau Office of the AU Chairperson, shortly after arrival at the Kotoka International Airport.

The Information Minister said the delegation was in Accra to inspect Ghana’s preparedness as one of the countries bidding to host the Secretariat.

He said Ghana was looking forward to grabbing the opportunity to host the ACFTA Secretariat, which would bring several benefits to the nation.

“In the coming days Ghanaian officials will take them round on an inspection to show our preparedness. If you have the secretariat in your country, it is a huge deal which will bring many opportunities for the growth of this country” he told journalists.

The Africa Continental Free Trade Area is a planned free trade area outlined in the ACFTA Agreement among 49 of the 55 African countries.

President Akufo-Addo in March last year appended his signature to the three legal instruments namely; the Agreement establishing the Continental Free Trade Area; the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the Kigali declaration which established the ACFTA.