MPs applaud AfCFTA secretariat in Ghana

General News of Saturday, July 13, 2019

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

2019-07-13

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, appeared in Parliament on Thursday to inform parliamentarians of the right given in Ghana to host the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) who was greeted with much applause from both sides of the House. .

Members of the National Minority National Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Majority Party (NPP) unanimously congratulated the President, Nana Ado Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Minister of Commerce for working so hard to secure the secretariat located in Ghana, which they say would bring huge economic gains to the nation.

The leader of the minority, Haruna Iddrisu, particularly appreciated the efforts of the Minister of Commerce, which he described as a man with broad international acceptability in the commercial sector.

He said that with the Secretariat's welcome, Ghana needed to be cautious and strengthen its local trade laws in order to protect local industries.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, NDC deputy for North Tongu and a prominent member of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, said that AfCFTA marked the beginning of Africa's economic power and that it was the only way to go. it would certainly improve the economies of the various African countries that had signed the agreement. agreement.

For his part, the Minister of Commerce said that seven countries, including Ghana, wanted to host the secretariat, but three countries had withdrawn their candidacy and ceded their support for Ghana's candidacy.

The other six countries were Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Egypt, Madagascar and Eswatini, but Senegal, Ethiopia and Egypt withdrew and supported Ghana's bid.

"Mr. President, Ghana should seize the opportunity to host the AfCFTA secretariat to become Africa's new commercial capital, a hub of regional trade and an economic center. epic, as well as the new gateway to the mainland, "said the minister, pointing out A coordinating office is currently being set up at the Ministry of Commerce to serve as a one-stop facilitation and information center staffed and managed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.