The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, has called for a bold and coordinated approach to investment across Africa, stressing that the continent stands at a critical juncture in redefining its role within the global eco …
… ment strategies, the discussions between Mr Miezan and Mr Sow pointed to a clear goal: to transform this government-to-government partnership into a strong, private-sector–driven industrial alliance that leverages shared opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area …
… The initiative, he noted, aligns with Ghana’s broader economic agenda, including efforts to expand exports under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and create jobs through the government’s proposed 24-hour economy policy. …
… n Confederation of Exporters (ASMEX) and Attijariwafa Bank’s Africa Development Club, brought together government officials, financial institutions and private-sector leaders to explore how trade finance can accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area …
… Additionally, the new law designates GIPA as Ghana’s national focal point for the Protocol on Investment under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positioning Ghana institutionally at the heart of continental trade, not just as a passive recipient of Foreign Direct …
… He warned that continued incidents of xenophobia risk undermining the broader objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to deepen economic integration and intra-African trade. …
… It builds on the success of the inaugural 2025 cohort and responds to rising demand from entrepreneurs eager to professionalize operations and leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). …
… The High Commissioner of Sierra Leone His comments come at a time when African leaders and businesses are increasingly being encouraged to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost intra-African trade and reduce d …
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2027 will take place January 27–29 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, themed "The Borderless Africa We Want: Move Freely. Pay Seamlessly. Trade More." The venue change from the Accra International Conference Centre—which is undergoing refurbishment—will limit attendance to about 1,000 people, compared to 6,400 at the previous edition.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2027 will take place January 27–29 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, themed "The Borderless Africa We Want: Move Freely. Pay Seamlessly. Trade More." The venue change from the Accra International Conference Centre—which is undergoing refurbishment—will limit attendance to about 1,000 people, compared to 6,400 at the previous edition.
Accra hosted the GEF Global Business Forum, convening business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and diplomats to advance trade, investment and cross-border partnerships. The forum connected businesses with investors and markets, and generated commitments including sponsored participation for entrepreneurs at the Global Entrepreneurship Festival 2026 in Cairo.
Sir Sam Jonah has called on African governments and businesses to dismantle barriers to trade and focus on implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area, arguing that entrepreneurs and enterprises—not government employment alone—can drive economic transformation and job creation across the continent.
Ghana's policy dialogue focuses on micro and large enterprises while overlooking small and medium firms, which are numerically the smallest MSME groups but carry disproportionate weight in job creation and industrial growth. The MSME sector accounts for over 90% of all businesses and contributes roughly 70% to national GDP, but treating all MSMEs the same fails to serve any segment well.
Senyo Hosi called for closer cooperation between governments and businesses, emphasizing the need for clear rules, public investment, and reliable institutions to drive Africa's economic transformation and create jobs.
Environment minister designate Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings has urged caution in Ghana's participation in carbon markets, stating that financial benefits from carbon trading must be consistent with the country's development agenda. She noted that Ghana has signed bilateral carbon agreements with Switzerland and Sweden, but warned that the country must ensure it does not mortgage its domestic development space through such trades.
At the launch of the 2026 GITFiC AfCFTA Tertiary Students' Week, University of Ghana students were called upon to develop practical skills to drive the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The programme, held under the theme "Empowering the Next Generation to Learn, Connect, Trade, Innovate and Lead," aims to expose students to the opportunities and demands of Africa's single market, with the argument that Africa's challenge is not the absence of a trade agreement but the lack of skilled professionals to implement it.
An Afrobarometer report across 38 African countries in 2024/2025 finds that only 13% of Africans have heard of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), yet support for free trade has surged to 62%, with 62% agreeing that easier cross-border trade creates economic opportunities compared to 34% who would limit trade to protect local producers.
An Afrobarometer survey of 38 African countries found that only 13 per cent of Africans have heard of the African Continental Free Trade Area, with awareness concentrated among highly educated and politically informed citizens. Despite the low awareness, 62 per cent of Africans believe their countries would benefit economically from freer trade with other nations, representing a significant increase from 51 per cent five years earlier.
The University of Ghana School of Law has launched 38 distinct Master of Laws and Master of Arts programs, diverging from the practice of elite global law schools which maintain streamlined, flexible core curricula rather than separately named specialised degrees.
MTN Ghana board chairman Dr Ishmael Yamson says full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area is critical to unlocking Africa's economic potential and would depend on member states' commitment to execute the agreement. He argues that successful AfCFTA implementation would facilitate trade and encourage free movement of capital, resources and people across the continent.
MTN Ghana Board Chairman Dr Ishmael Yamson says full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area is crucial to unlocking Africa's economic potential and reshaping the continent's future, requiring member states' commitment to move beyond signing agreements to effective execution.
Ghana has entered the advisory phase of a US Africa Command (AFRICOM) capacity-building programme after completing its initial assessment stage, marking progress in defence logistics, operational readiness and military cooperation with the United States.
Prudential Bank has activated the Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) on its mobile banking app, enabling customers to send and receive cross-border payments across participating African countries in local currencies. The bank said the move supports intra-African trade and aligns with AfCFTA objectives and Ghana's 24-hour economy policy.
President John Dramani Mahama held bilateral talks with Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema at the Jubilee House, calling for stronger economic cooperation between the two countries focused on trade, investment, industrialisation, and private-sector partnerships. Mahama said Ghana's hosting of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat positions it to advance intra-African trade and economic integration.
The Chairman of the Pan-African Parliament Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration has called on African leaders to adopt a coordinated strategy to derive greater economic value from critical mineral resources through value addition rather than exporting raw materials. He argued the continent should shift focus from articulating aspirations to implementing policies that deliver measurable benefits for its people.
Ghana and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area, pledging to remove trade barriers and increase bilateral trade volumes. Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also called for eliminating obstacles to trade and investment, and urged both governments and other ECOWAS member states to build confidence in the proposed ECO single currency.
President John Dramani Mahama on July 15th, 2026, assented to the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Act, 2026 (Act 1173), transforming the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) into the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) with expanded mandate and stronger institutional and enforcement powers. The Act repeals the 2013 Act 865 and represents the most comprehensive reform of Ghana's investment regime in over a decade, designed to improve ease of doing business and strengthen investor protection.
President Mahama announced the government is preparing to begin the procurement process for a new airport in Wa, part of a strategy to enhance transport infrastructure and position the Upper West Region as a commercial and logistics gateway between Ghana and the Sahel under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The TDC Ghana Managing Director says the Tema Integrated Industrial Park, an 83.13-hectare facility developed by TDC Ghana Limited, GIADEC, and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms, will accelerate value addition and attract investment to strengthen Ghana's manufacturing sector and position the country as an industrial hub under the AfCFTA.
Prof. Samuel Lartey argues that while Ghana's macroeconomic indicators—rising GDP, declining inflation, stronger reserves—suggest recovery from a severe economic crisis, ordinary households continue to face high living costs, unemployment, stagnant incomes, and declining purchasing power.
Ghanaian businesses often find it cheaper to source from Europe, Asia, or the Americas than from neighbouring African countries, according to AmCham Ghana. High logistics costs, expensive air travel, fragmented customs systems, and infrastructure bottlenecks continue to obstruct regional trade and economic integration despite the African Continental Free Trade Area initiative.
Ghana imports approximately 100,000 vehicles annually at a cost of $1.14–$1.5 billion, straining foreign exchange. The Ghana Automotive Development Policy has attracted over £35 million in investment from manufacturers including Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot and KIA, creating more than 320 direct jobs and over 900 indirect jobs, but the industry remains at a critical crossroads without sustained support.
The Founder of the Brazil-Ghana Chamber of Commerce has urged young Africans to actively build trust and relationships to strengthen regional economic integration, arguing that frameworks like AfCFTA and Agenda 2063 depend on mutual trust and cooperation across borders, not just policies and infrastructure.
Ghana imports approximately 100,000 vehicles annually, spending between $1.14 billion and $1.5 billion on imports that strain foreign exchange reserves. The Ghana Automotive Development Policy has attracted more than $35 million in private investment from global manufacturers including Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Peugeot and KIA, positioning the sector as a potential opportunity for economic growth and job creation.
Ghana International Bank has signed a Confirming Bank Agreement with the African Development Bank under its Transaction Guarantee Instrument, positioning it to enhance support for importers, exporters and financial institutions engaged in cross-border trade across Africa. The partnership aims to improve access to trade finance, strengthen supply chains and advance the African Continental Free Trade Area objectives.
Ghana International Bank Plc has signed a Confirming Bank Agreement with the African Development Bank under the Transaction Guarantee Instrument to strengthen trade financing and support importers, exporters, and financial institutions engaged in cross-border commerce across Africa.
Policymakers, trade experts and business leaders at the 2026 Citi Business Festival say Ghanaian businesses must take a more proactive role in leveraging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area, citing the need for stronger private sector participation, policy coordination and trade financing to maximise benefits from Africa's $3 trillion single market.
S&P Global Ratings has assigned African Export-Import Bank a 'BBB+' long-term issuer credit rating and 'A-2' short-term issuer credit rating with Stable Outlook, reflecting the Bank's growing strategic importance, robust risk profile, and role supporting African trade and economic development. The ratings agency highlighted Afreximbank's policy relevance and shareholder support, noting that total assets expanded to $42.3 billion from $7.1 billion between 2015 and 2025, with shareholders' equity increasing to $8.4 billion from $1.3 billion.
Journalism students at the University of Media, Arts and Communication joined a live Channel One TV discussion on how Ghana can maximise benefits from the African Continental Free Trade Area. A five-member panel, including the Acting National AfCFTA Coordinator and CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussed opportunities and challenges, with speakers highlighting issues such as Ghana's high manufacturing power costs compared to global competitors.