Leaders of Ghana’s Parliament have called on African heads of state and governments to put measures in place to get rid of barriers that are hindrances to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFT).
Commenting on a statement read in the House by the Foreign Affairs Ministry to commemorate African Integration Day for the operationalisation of the AfCFT, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu asserted that issues such as differences in currencies, infrastructures and import restrictions were affecting the operationalisation of the programme.
On currency, Mr Kyei-Mensah intimated that there was a great dichotomy between the currencies of the Anglophones and the Francophones.
He said the implementation of a single currency for African countries had become a big problem, indication that the Francophones were not willing to do so, because they claim their economies are being supported, and the Anglophones are also not willing to submit, meanwhile, having a common currency will really go a long way to facilitate trade, the Leader said.
Another hindrance Mr Kyei-Mensah identified was transportation. The Majority Leader observed that commuting to other African countries by air is really a great problem, because there are no direct flights from one country to the other.
He suggested that African leaders must commit to investing in infrastructural development to solve the issue of transportation.
The other hindrance identified by the Majority Leader was the trade rules that exist in some African countries. Citing Nigeria as an example, Mr Kyei-Mensah said that one cannot trade some goods in Nigeria, which is very bad.
He called on all heads of state to come out with better formulae to move the continent to realise the practicability of the programme.
It would be recalled that the operational phase of the AfCFT was launched during the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Niamey, Niger on 7 July 2019.
The AfCFT is intended to be the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation. It would cover a market of 1.2 billion people, with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 trillion, across the 54 member states of the African Union that have signed up to the Agreement.
Ghana was selected to host the Secretariat for the programme at the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the African Union (AU), held in Niamey, capital of Niger, after Ghana beat off competition from Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Senegal.
At that time AU heads of states and governments decided that 7 July of each year be designated “the Africa Integration Day” (AID), without it being a holiday, to commemorate the operationalisation of the AfCFT Agreement, and popularise economic integration across the continent as a lever of inclusive sustainable development.
In essence the day is also to celebrate progress made in the implementation of the Africa Integration Agenda, including that AfCFT.
It is also intended to galvanise and mobilise Africans within the continent and abroad towards the accelerated and full operationalisation of the ideals and objectives of the African economic community.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mohammad Habibu Tijani, who read the statement on behalf of the sector Minister, asserted that despite the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the leaders are determined not to allow it to delay the process of its implementation.
He said there was the need to pursue the agenda with focus and passion, because the AfCFT is critical to the development of the continent.
It is consistent with the development aspirations and policies of Ghana, hence, the need to pursue it, adding that the government remains resolute in implementing the programme.
However, both leaders of the House were dismayed at the many barriers hindering the smooth implementation of the programme.
On his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said that while it was worth celebrating the day, Africa is regrettably at the cross roads in its quest and efforts to integrate and use the facilitation of trade investment to stir the growth and development of the Continent.
He noted that the essence of integration is for companies and countries to help each other to trade together. “When you go to Nigeria, they still have listed commodities that cannot enter their country. This does not promote free African trade with this attitude and this behaviour.”
He also said that there was still fragmentation in Africa, as there is also monopoly of some goods, which is a hindrance to free trade.
The post Leaders bemoan barriers in implementation of AfCFT appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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