Business News of Wednesday, 22 January 2020Source: www.ghanaweb.comGhana may not benefit from AfCFTA if it doesn’t influence trade protocols - Pianim warnsKwame Pianim, EconomistAn Economist, Kwame Pianim has warned that if Ghana doesn’t influence the trade protocols in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it may not benefit the citizenry because the country currently does not have a viable industrial base. According to him, the current trade regime for Ghana is only based on imports and expects the Minister for Trade and Industry, ‘to be busy’ discussing with industry players on the trade protocols towards implementing the AfCFTA. “We are assuming that because the African Continental Free Trade Area is going to have a secretariat in Ghana, we are going to benefit? Recently, President Akufo-Addo gave an assurance that the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will be up and running by March this year for trading activities to begin in the free trade area by July this year. The African Continental Free Trade Area agreementThe African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA) will constitute the world’s largest free trade area, consolidating an integrated market of 1.3 billion consumers with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately US$3.4 trillion.

Source: GhanaWeb January 22, 2020 12:56 UTC