AfCFTA has potential to promote African integration – says Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana

Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana HE Gunnar Holm highlighted the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to strengthen peace and stability on the African continent.

During the first edition of the series of stakeholder dialogues of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, the Ambassador said, “AfCFTA has the potential to lead Africa’s integration into a direction that matches the continent’s unique makeup of countries, people, resources and economic development. . ”

“There will be challenges, but I am convinced that this is the way forward for regional peace and stability, for economic and social development and for fully harnessing the potential of the continent.”

The theme of the dialogue was “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Private Sector: Towards Effective Development and Sustainable Peace”, and was organized to bring together private sector stakeholders to discuss how they can work together for peace and security in Africa.

“I strongly believe in the role of the economy and the private sector in driving regional integration and thereby building strong structures for peace,” HE Gunnar Holm also said.

He also insisted on the need to focus on soft human security issues like unemployment and poverty.

“I think that as we move more towards a softer human security, the kind of security that concerns and affects so many different people on this continent and around the world, we will continue to make the focus and our discussion relevant. Because when we talk about security in the face of unemployment, economic hardship, disease, lack of education and so many global challenges. ”

The private sector plays a major role in peace and stability – Deputy German Ambassador to Ghana

The Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Ghana, HE Hans-Hegle Sander, while speaking at the same event, also underlined the importance of the private sector in promoting peace and stability in the region.

“We recognize the relevance of the private sector in addressing the structural causes of insecurity. There is no doubt that economic development plays a key role in the fight against poverty, lack of jobs and underdevelopment, which, if left unchecked, could be the source of grievances. mass and instability. There is significant potential for a stronger partnership between peacebuilding institutions and private sector agents. The private sector is involved in social cohesion initiatives and leverages its influence to promote stability at state and community levels through corporate social responsibility and participation in policy consultations and settlement mechanisms disputes. ”

— citinewsroom