The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum-Akwaboah, has called for a pragmatic approach to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging faster bilateral collaborations within the sub-region.
Responding to questions during a media interaction after the AGI National Council Retreat, Mr Twum-Akwaboah said while the AfCFTA framework was still evolving, Ghanaian manufacturers could not afford to wait indefinitely before expanding exports.
“We are ready with the products. We do not necessarily have to wait for all the formalities before exporting within the sub-region,” he said.
He explained that reaching consensus among 54 African countries on trade modalities takes time, as each country seeks to protect its domestic industries. “It is easier for two presidents to agree and facilitate trade directly than to wait for continent-wide modalities to be finalised,” he said.
Mr Twum-Akwaboah noted that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols already provide mechanisms for trade within West Africa, but practical barriers such as excessive documentation and border bottlenecks persist.
He cited pharmaceuticals as one area where Ghana has a competitive advantage. “Ghana is well positioned to supply pharmaceuticals to most of West Africa, except perhaps Nigeria. Government must pave the way for easier market access,” he said.
He also highlighted opportunities in processed grains such as maize, millet, sorghum, and soybeans, which could be converted into breakfast cereals for export across the sub-region.
The AGI emphasised the importance of regional institutional collaboration to address region-specific needs and strengthen private sector participation.
Twum-Akwaboah urged government to reduce paperwork and streamline export procedures to enable industries to formalise cross-border trade.
“With over 450 million people in West Africa alone, the sub-region is a huge market. Export should not only mean overseas markets,” he said.
He reiterated AGI’s commitment to working with government institutions to boost regional trade, expand industrial output and generate foreign exchange to stabilise the cedi.
