President John Dramani Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government aims to triple the number of companies certified under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Rules of Origin.
According to him, Ghana is poised to become a hub for products, knowledge exports, and digital services, driven by increased production and a trained youth workforce ready for the job market.
Delivering a speech on the progress of the 120-day Social Contract on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, President Mahama stated, “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers an unprecedented opportunity, and we are positioning Ghana as a regional manufacturing and export hub.”
“This year, we aim to triple the number of companies certified under AfCFTA’s Rules of Origin, scale up export-readiness training for youth and women, and expand into new markets while strengthening existing partnerships. Ghana will become a hub for products, digital services, knowledge exports, and creative industries,” he added.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063, is a high-ambition trade agreement with a comprehensive scope that covers critical areas of Africa’s economy, including digital trade and investment protection.
By eliminating trade barriers within Africa, AfCFTA aims to significantly boost intra-African trade, particularly in value-added production across all sectors of the economy.
AfCFTA, which took effect in January 2021, is the largest free trade area globally, encompassing 55 African countries with a combined population of 1.3 billion people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) exceeding $3.4 trillion.
This agreement is expected to strengthen African economies, making them more resilient to internal and external shocks.
SA/MA
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