Ghana committed to AfCFTA secretariat establishment - Akufo-Addo assures AU heads

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stated that Ghana has an unwavering commitment to the establishment and operationalisation of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

So far, he said, the government had spent $3 million towards the birth and operationalisation of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Making an intervention at the closing session of the 33rd African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, the President assured the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the AU that the AfCFTA Secretariat would be operational by March 31, 2020.

He said after being selected as host country for the secretariat, Ghana was directed to work with the AU Commission to ensure an expeditious and efficient process of establishing a permanent secretariat by March 31, 2020.

 Activities

Outlining the activities that were being undertaken by Ghana towards the realisation of the secretariat, the President indicated that the reconfiguration of the office premises based on the specific requirements agreed with the AU Commission, including the installation of critical data and IT Infrastructure facilities, security systems, office furnishing and corporate branding of the AfCFTA office complex, had been done.

 Besides, he told the assembly that the acquisition and furnishing of the residence of the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, based on the requirements agreed with the AU Commission, had been completed, while negotiations had been initiated with some real estate companies for residential accommodation for other AfCFTA staff.

 He further stated that in addition to the finalisation of arrangements for health and educational facilities for AfCFTA management and staff, a dedicated booth at the Kotoka International Airport to facilitate entry and exit requirements of AfCFTA officials, as well as representatives of member States who would be conducting official business with the secretariat had been secured.

 President Akufo-Addo reiterated Ghana’s determination “to establish the secretariat by the end of March 2020, which will be of world-class quality, and ensure that, by 1st July, 2020, as mandated by the assembly, the AfCFTA takes off without a hitch”.

COMSATS meeting

Earlier yesterday, President Akufo-Addo had held a meeting of member states of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS).

With Ghana serving as chair of COMSATS, the President told Heads of State and representatives of the 27 member states that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that member states recommitted themselves to the work of COMSATS and to reposition the commission to support the collective drive for leveraging science, technology and innovation for sustainable development.

“In the 25 years of its existence, COMSATS has played a lead role in cultivating an enhanced culture of scientific and technological co-operation among its members through capacity building, education, research and development,” he said.

 “The pivotal role science and technology play in development is well acknowledged. Together with innovation, they have become the new currency for development. Science and technology hold the key to finding sustainable economic, social and environmental solutions to the many problems that confront us. And these problems are shared – from Algeria to Zimbabwe, and from Benin to Tanzania, we face common problems,” he added. 

 He expressed the hope that COMSATS was well situated to help foster greater partnerships to advance science and technology for the development of Africa.

 With one of the key objectives of Agenda 2063 being to transform Africa into a strategic player in the global economy, President Akufo-Addo was certain that that could be achieved through improved education and the application of science and technology in development.

 The meeting served as a precursor to the General Meeting and the Forum on Science and Technology, which will be held in Accra on April 14 and 15, 2020.

 The President urged the member states to join Ghana for the general meeting.