Ghana seeks Seychelles’ support to host African free trade market area |29 May 2019

President Faure welcomes Minister Kyerematen at State House

Ghana is seeking the support of the Seychelles government for it to host the secretariat of the African Free Trade Market Area.

Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, was at State House yesterday morning to present President Danny Faure with a special message from his President, Nana Akufo-Addo, in connection with getting the office of the new single market for Africa based in Ghana.

Minister Kyerematen was accompanied to State House by a four-member delegation. He said 52 out of the 55 African countries have signed the free trade agreement among which 22 countries have already ratified the agreement which technically brings it into force.

“The African Union requires member states to offer to host the secretariat of the African Free Trade Market Area (AFCFTA) and Ghana is among seven countries that have already made an offer to host the secretariat. So our message here was to seek the support of the president and the people of Seychelles,” said Minister Kyerematen.

He noted that Seychelles and Ghana have deep fraternal, cultural and historical links going back many years and for a number of strategic reasons, Ghana would be an excellent and ideal host for the AFCFTA.

He also noted he was very happy that President Faure received the message very favourably.

“Knowing what exists between our two countries, I am inclined to believe that Seychelles will stand behind its sister country Ghana,” Minister Kyerematen pointed out.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement Area unveiled in Kigali, Rwanda in March 2018, is meant to create a tariff-free continent that can grow local businesses, boost intra-African trade, rev up industrialisation and create jobs.