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Private sector must own the AfCFTA!

Africa’s social and economic transformation agenda has been significantly boosted with the take-off of the single continental market.

Government and state actors in the trade and export sectors have lined up robust and measured interventions to build the competitiveness of the business community to take advantage of the enormous opportunities it has to offer.

It is now up to the local business community to understand the market, the requirements and what it would take to enter these markets. There are certain sectors that have already seen the light. For example, businesses that are into high value manufacturing have already starting setting up business hubs in other parts of Africa.

These businesses are expected to lead the path on this sustainable economic journey toward continental integration whilst dragging along the bulk of Ghana’s private sector businesses, specifically the micro, small and medium enterprises.

The Africa Continental Free Trade Area was established to create structures that would enable cost-efficient free movement of goods and services, and it is up to traders themselves to drive the trade.

“AfCFTA has given us the opportunity to thrive in other markets, find those markets, find business partners and explore means of staying in those markets. AfCFTA is only reducing the barriers that would hitherto disable you from doing so,” a trade expert Dode Seidu, aptly reiterated in his recent engagement with the business community.

The AfCFTA is not just a traditional trade agreement but a reliable chance for Africans to lift ourselves and for that matter we have to make sure that opportunities of the market are well explored to the betterment of the continent.

Appiatse rebuilding to cost GH¢70m, gov’t says

By Eugene Davis

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has told lawmakers in Ghana’s parliament that the reconstruction of Appiatse community is expected to cost GH¢70m.

According to the minister, the committee of eminent persons tasked to lead the Relief Support fund came up with a preliminary figure of GH¢70m which is needed to reconstruct Appiatse Community.

Appearing before parliament on Tuesday to answer a question on the balance sheet of the Appiatse Funds, he said “The technical Committee constituted has come out with a preliminary figure of GH¢70m. And we have been able to raise GH¢42.5m but these estimates are preliminary because they are subject to variations based on the prices of goods and services

He adds that a sum of GH¢1m was advanced towards Appiatse reconstruction.

Mr. Jinapor conceded there is no sufficient fund to continue with rebuilding of the township and appealed for more donation to the fund. He also added the company that caused the explosion and fined US$1m is committing monies to the fund.

The minister also disclosed that the Committee has also received non-monetary donations in the form of wood, cement, clothing and cooking utensils.

The Appiate Support Fund, which was set up to mobilise adequasustainableii uple community, as a model for rural development across the country.

Background

On Thursday, January 20, 2022, a tragedy befell the nation. A truck carrying explosives intended for mining, exploded at Appiatse, in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region, causing extensive damage to life and property. The incident claimed the lives of some thirteen (13) people and literally razed down the entire community.

Government, after assessing the situation and its impact on the community, decided to establish an Appiatse Support Fund (ASF), to raise funds from the general public to, among others, support the victims of this incident, and to reconstruct the community which was razed down by the explosion.