Senior Minister opens GITFiC Conference on AfCFTA
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Source: GITFIConline.com
Alexander Nyarko Yeboah
The Senior Minister, Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, will give the key-note address at the fourth Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC) as part of the Ghana government’s commitment to the ideals of the conference and AfCFTA.
The 2020 conference, which is the fourth since its inception, focuses on the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement which takes effect from January 2021.
This was made known to the gitficonline on Thursday in an interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GITFiC, Mr. Selasi Koffi Ackom, during which he highlighted some of the activities that would constitute the conference.
Mr. Ackom said speakers for the occasion would include Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, CEO, Association of Ghana Industries, and Mr. Michael Okyere Baafi, CEO, Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA).
Others include Mr. Anthony Kwasi Nyame-Baafi, Immediate Past Chief Trade Negotiator, Ghana. Currently, he is the Technical Advisor of Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana.
Mr. Frank Agyekum, Executive Secretary of the Ghana International Trade Commission (GITC), Mr. Alex Nortey, President of the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce (CGCC), and H.E Albert Muchanga, Trade and Industry Commissioner, Africa Union, would participate in the debate on the outcomes of the implementation of AfCFTA.
Other speakers include Mr. Gideon Quist, CEO of Dions Africa Holdings SA and Dions Groupe Limited Ghana, Mr. Lamin Dampha, Chief Negotiator for The Gambia in the negotiations on AfCFTA, Hon. Charles Owiredu, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ghana, and Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah, the CEO, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) who will significantly declear Accra as the Commercial Capital for Africa by the virtue of Ghana Hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat. The Honorable Mayor will be support by Industry titans and other dignitaries.
Others are Mr. Tsonam Cleanse Akeploo, Greater Accra Chairman and Head of Industry, Association of Ghana Industries, Mr. Garvin Amarvie, Corporate Monitoring Manager and ISO Coordinator, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Head Quarters, and Mr. Temiloluwa Bamgbose, award winning multimedia journalist, Nigeria.
Mr. Edward Tetteh-Owusu Akrong, President, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Mr. Selasi Koffi Ackom, CEO, Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC), and Mr. Fechin Yao Akoto, Assistant Commissioner, Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs Division, would also be present.
Other panel members are Dr. Nathaniel Boso, Dean, School of Business, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and Dr. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, Dean, School of Graduate studies, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
Some media personalities who would grace the occasion are Nana Oye Ankrah and Madam Karen Dodoo, both moderators of Asaase Radio, and Mr. Kweku Temeng, a Moderator of EIB Network (GHOne TV) who would also act as the Master of Ceremony for the conference.
Day one of the conference would host the CEO’s Panel which would discuss the topic, “Igniting industries preparedness to fully exploit the benefits of AfCFTA whilst protecting industries in Ghana against competition, dumping, among others; the role of AGI, GITC, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) and GFZA”
Day one would also look at the agreements, the disagreements of AFCFTA, among others; it would also consider what the most challenging point throughout the negotiations was, whether it was addressed, and how it was addressed. It would also examine the role of “Ports, Customs, Business Executives and our various Chambers of Commerce in a successful implementation of AfCFTA.”
Day two would assess the role of telecommunication, banks, technology and finance houses in harmonizing a single continental digital platform in driving a successful implementation of AfCFTA. The day would also be used to define the position of the media in the total implementation of AfCFTA.
The conference, which would be on the theme,” Optimizing AfCFTA for Africans, the role of logistics infrastructure,” would be held on the 27th and 28th of October at the Movenpick Ambassadors Hotel, Accra.
Sponsors for the program include Agricultural Development Bank (adb), GFZA et al. This year’Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), and Association of Ghana Industries.
