The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana has called on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to focus on removing trade barriers that impact intra-African trade among member nations.
The Association pointed out issues related to infrastructure and logistics that deter exporters from considering other African countries as potential markets. Responding to a recent 10% tariff imposed by the U.S. government on exported goods from all countries, including Ghana, the Association's President, Dr. Felix Mawuli Kamassah, urged the AfCFTA Secretariat to adopt a more active approach in addressing these persistent challenges.
Dr. Kamassah stated, "Some of these barriers are serious hindrances to traders and drivers. If you speak to people engaged in regional trade, especially within ECOWAS and the broader West African region, they'll tell you about the numerous challenges they face."
He highlighted the situation faced by onion traders transporting goods from Niger, who often encounter multiple transit obstacles, noting: "It shouldn't be like that. We want to promote trade among ourselves. Why can't we make better decisions and identify key areas to improve?"
Dr. Kamassah stressed that exporters are not requesting financial support from governments or regional entities, but rather the establishment of a favorable environment to facilitate intra-African trade.
Source: Citi NewsRoom