African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Set to Expand To 30 Countries Come 2024

In a significant stride toward implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, Senior Advisor Peter Joy Serwornoo, to the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, announced that 30 countries in Africa are poised to commence trading under this pact next year.

Currently, seven nations have initiated trading activities through the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative, aimed at assisting African countries in kickstarting trade under this agreement. These countries—Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Mauritius—are at the forefront of this initiative.

These countries—Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Cameroon, Rwanda, and Mauritius—are at the forefront of this initiative.

Speaking at the Regional Forum on AfCFTA for Anglophone West and North Africa in Accra, Mr. Serwornoo highlighted the progress made by these countries, citing instances such as Ghana exporting ceramic tiles to Cameroon and Kenya supplying tea to Ghana to jumpstart the implementation process.

The three-day program, organised by Third World Network-Africa, convened various stakeholders, including representatives from civil society organisations, private sector entities, trade unions, women’s organisations, government officials, and policy institutions. Its objective was to facilitate dialogue, exchange information, and strategise future engagements with civil society organisations concerning the AfCFTA.

Mr. Serwornoo stressed that while trading under AfCFTA is currently in its pilot phase, full-scale trading is scheduled to commence next year, expecting an increased number of participating countries.

When asked about the trade value among the seven countries, he indicated that it was premature to gauge, revealing that they were trading in approximately 96 products, including ceramic tiles, tea, and air conditioners.

Despite progress, challenges persist, notably the low signature count on the Free Movement of Goods protocol. Mr. Serwornoo urged member countries to sign this protocol, emphasising the benefits it offers, including the provision for business people to temporarily deliver services across borders.

While acknowledging the complexities, Mr. Serwornoo reiterated the commitment of African countries to AfCFTA. He highlighted that 54 out of 55 African countries had signed the agreement, with only Eritrea pending. Additionally, 47 African nations had ratified the AfCFTA Agreement, with some countries, including Benin, Liberia, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Mozambique, and Eritrea, yet to ratify it.