Ghana’s business leaders are sounding the alarm: the nation isn’t capitalizing on hosting the AfCFTA headquarters.
With the Intra-Africa Trade Fair (IATF 2025) in Algiers just months away, the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) met Algeria’s ambassador to push for a stronger export push.
“There’s an opportunity situated in Ghana, and we’re not leveraging it,” warned GNCCI First Vice President Emelia Assiakwa. “If we don’t, we’re not helping ourselves.”
Her message was blunt—Ghana must pivot from exporting raw materials like cocoa, shea butter, and cassava to selling value-added goods. “How do we partner to add value here before exporting?” she challenged, urging businesses to pursue deals advancing agribusiness and industrialization. To maximize participation, the Chamber set no restrictive criteria: MSMEs and large firms alike can join if “ready to find partners.”
Algerian Ambassador Mousad Louhaidia confirmed advanced preparations, including talks on direct Accra-Algiers flights. “We’re enthusiastic to see Ghanaian businesses participate massively,” he stated, acknowledging Ghana’s pan-African leadership role.
AfCFTA Head of Communications Grace Khosa framed the stakes higher. Amid global trade tensions, she invoked Kwame Nkrumah’s vision: “Africa can insulate itself, or realize we can depend on each other.” IATF 2025, she stressed, is where “business meets policy, innovation meets capital, and African ambition meets African opportunity.” She highlighted tools like the Pan-African Payment System (PAPSS) breaking down trade barriers.
With Ghana’s AfCFTA headquarters offering a strategic edge, the pressure is on: will its businesses seize the lion’s share of the US$3.5 trillion African market—or let the privilege slip?