Ghana leads way in AfCFTA's Guided Trade Initiative

Ghana has emerged as a leader in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement's Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), showcasing 14 companies actively engaged in 40 trades across AfCFTA member countries.

This was disclosed by Mr Appiah Adomako, the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, at a Public-Private Dialogue on the GTI in Accra on Tuesday.

He stated that Ghana has solidified its commitment to the AfCFTA by actively participating in the GTI since its inauguration in October 2022.

"Out of 29 nations that submitted tariff offers, Ghana stands among the eight most committed participants, including Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia," he added.

According to him, some notable Ghanaian companies engaged in the GTI are alcoholic beverage producer Kasapreko and cosmetics manufacturer Ghandour Cosmetics.

He announced that Kasapreko had successfully exported a 20-foot container of drinks to South Africa by air. Meanwhile, Ghandour shipped a similar consignment of beauty products to Guinea.

“Additionally, palm oil company Benso Oil Palm Plantation exported goods to Kenya and ceramics firm KEDA Ghana sent products to Cameroon,” he announced.

According to Mr Adomako, the GTI allows AfCFTA policies to be tested while also demonstrating the agreement's functionality.

Beyond Ghana's remarkable participation, other nations also actively engage in the GTI.

Mr Adomako noted that Kenya boasts of 27 companies conducting over 50 trades, while Egypt has 7 companies involved in 20 trades.

"Furthermore, Mauritius, Rwanda and Cameroon have noteworthy engagement with 25, 8 and 4 potential trades respectively."

In a move underscoring Ghana's pivotal role, the AfCFTA Secretariat signed a deal with airline MacDan Aviation for two cargo planes and one ship to transport GTI goods.

"This development highlights the collective momentum propelling the GTI towards enhanced intra-African trade," Mr Adomako noted.

The dialogue organised by CUTS International and GIZ was one of several ways of seeking to promote the operationalisation and implementation of the AfCFTA through complementary initiatives like the GTI.