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President Akufo-Addo and ten other African heads of state and government will receive awards for their role in the entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, will also be honored for his role in this regard.
The awards ceremony will take place today [January 15, 2021] at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and via Zoom.
Below is the list of winners
Awards ceremony on January 15, 2021 – Thanks to illustrious leaders-heads of state and government, heads of institutions
1. Felix Tshekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, new President of the African Union.
2. Ahmed Fattah Al-Sisi, President of Egypt, former President of the African Union.
3. His Majesty King Mswati III, Ngwenyama d’Eswatini, host of the regional headquarters of the AeTrade group for Southern Africa.
4. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, host of the AUC.
5. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, host of the AfCFTA Secretariat
6. Professor Alpha Condé, President of Guinea, host of the AcTrade regional headquarters for West Africa.
7. Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger, Leader and Champion of the AfCTA process.
8. Mahamadou Buhari, President of Nigeria.
9. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
10. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, President of the African Union.
The organizers of the award, a number of African private sector organizations in partnership with the African Union Commission, will also pay tribute to two former heads of state – Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn; former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, boss of AcTrade group, and Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, boss of AfroChampions.
Certain heads of African institutions and other prominent personalities for their “exceptional contribution to the ZLECAF process”.
Context of the AfCFTA
AfCFTA, the world’s largest free trade area, has the potential to transform the continent with its potential market of 1.2 billion people and combined GDP of around $ 3 trillion in the 54 member states of the ‘UA. Exchanges under the AfCFTA began on January 1, 2021.
The AfCFTA aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, with the free movement of businessmen and investments, in order to promote intra-continental trade.
The agreement, signed between 54 African countries, with 28 depositing their instruments of ratification, makes Africa the largest free trade area in the world, with a population of 1.3 billion people and a gross domestic product (GDP) total of more than $ 3.4 trillion.
The agreement was signed in Kigali, Rwanda on March 21, 2018 and entered into force on May 30, 2019 when the required minimum of 22 countries deposited their instruments of ratification with the President of the African Union.
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