Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), National Export Development Strategy (NEDS):Regional Events in Ghana

By Richard Adorsu-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Accra, Ghana-  The first of the regional conferences on the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and the National Export Development Strategy held November 10 in the Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Mr. Robert Ahomka-Lindsay, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, gave the keynote address on the conference theme: “Empowering Ghanaian Businesses to harness the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement under the framework of the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS)”.

The conferences are to sensitize relevant stakeholders from the private and public sectors, especially Ghanaian businesses in the various regions, about export development interventions aimed at empowering the private sector.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, said all the 15 regional conferences would be held in November. This followed the National Conference, it said, held at the Accra International Conference Centre on the 20 and 21 October 2020, which was opened by the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo, and Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA.

The events are being organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the National AfCFTA Coordination Office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana Standards Authority, Food & Drugs Authority, Ghana Eximbank and the Ghana Revenue Authority.

“The regional events are intended to be a lot more interactive with the aim of engaging the private sector to enable them to appreciate existing opportunities within the newly launched National Export Development Strategy, and how they can effectively access opportunities within the AfCFTA,” said the statement.

Representatives from the Exporter Community, Private Business Owners, Senior Public Service Officials, Private Sector Representatives in the Regions, Development Partners and the Media were expected to actively participate in the regional discussions, it said.

“The month of November has been dedicated to these roadshows to ensure that business communities in all 16 regions appreciate the relevance and impact of AfCFTA on their businesses and how the National Export Development Strategy is positioned to empower the private sector access the African market through interventions in export.

“The AfCFTA/NEDS sensitization train is expected to stop-over in all the other 15 regions, following the National Conference in Accra, as trading under the AfCFTA is scheduled to begin on January 1st, 2021.

“Watch out for when the Regional Conference makes a stop in your region,” the statement said. The first National Conference on AfCFTA was organized by the Government of Ghana in August 2019, followed by the second in October 2020, where the National Export Development Strategy was launched.

For New Africa Daily News Richard Adorsu Reports,  Africa Correspondent

www.newafricadailynews.com