News:
December 16, 2021
Minster for Trade and Industry Alan Kojo Kyerematen has said to ensure that the private sector in Ghana harnesses the benefits of the AfCFTA Agreement; a National AfCFTA Coordinating Office has been established to coordinate the implementation of the AfCFTA in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
According to him trading under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) commenced officially on January 1, 2021, and Ghana was the first country in Africa to establish Customs Procedure Codes to facilitate trading under AfCFTA.
More importantly, a comprehensive National Policy and Action Plan for AfCFTA have been developed and are currently being operationlised.
This includes an Enterprise Support Programme component designed to identify and assist companies in Ghana to directly target specific AfCFTA market destinations and to export to these markets.
So far, about 200 companies have been identified and the Ministry is currently undertaking enterprise level audits to determine the specific types of support needed to enable them to enter and compete in the Continental Market.
Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku asked the sector Minister steps it is taking to ensure that the private sector in Ghana harness the benefits from the AfCFTA agreement.
This, the Minister said, “Mr. Speaker, to facilitate trading under AfCFTA, the Ghana Revenue Authority has been designated as the Competent Authority for issuing Certificates of Origin to cover exports under AfCFTA”.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, to ensure optimal participation by the private sector, the National AfCFTA Office has undertaken several stakeholder consultations with both the private sector and key public sector agencies that have important roles to play to facilitate effective participation of the Ghanaian private sector in AfCFTA trading.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com