Wednesday, June 24, 2026

ECA tasks African countries on AfCFTA implementation

“Thanks to AfCFTA, the continent is no longer a helpless bystander as developed countries pursue their strategic interests at Africa’s expense.

• May 6, 2023
African Continental Free Trade AreaAfrican Continental Free Trade Area
AFCFTA (Photo Credit: Faa-law)

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has reiterated the need for African countries to accelerate economic transformation by effectively implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The commission director, Regional Integration and Trade Division, Stephen Karingi, said this in a statement.

Mr Karingi made the call while addressing participants at the opening of the third African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) in Accra, Ghana.

He said Africa would mull its next steps toward a common market with AfCFTA.

“Thanks to AfCFTA, the continent is no longer a helpless bystander as developed countries pursue their strategic interests at Africa’s expense.

“AfCFTA now offers the perfect platform for Africa to pursue policies of strategic autonomy just like everyone else is doing,” he said.

According to Mr Karingi, AfCFTA is a development tool that can help Africa tackle many challenges, such as food insecurity, joblessness, marginalisation and health insecurity, among others, if fully implemented.

“The key to succeeding in this endeavour lies in our ability to use AfCFTA as a platform for Africa’s industrialisation.

“To this end, ECA is supporting several initiatives, including developing the electric battery value chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia,’’ he said.

The ATPC coordinator, Melaku Desta, while welcoming the committee members, thanked the government of Canada for its long-standing support to the ATPC for nearly 20 years now.

Mr Desta appreciated the AfCFTA secretariat, AU Commission, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), representatives of the organised African private sector and civil society, and other committee members for supporting the work of the ATPC.

He described the steering committee as ATPC’s principal governance mechanism that provided oversight and guidance for its overall direction and strategic priorities.

Similarly, Marjorie Cheron, co-chairperson of the steering committee and representative of Global Affairs Canada, reiterated the importance of AfCFTA.

Mr Cheron described AfCFTA as a game changer that promised to create a stable business environment with standard rules that would establish a single market of significant size.

Mr Sebahizi outlined a list of issues that should guide the work of the ATPC.

He said this included a continued search for an explanation as to why Africa, despite its endowment with abundant natural and human resources, remained far behind all other parts of the world.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States

Army rescues three kidnap victims, foils terrorist attack in Zamfara, Sokoto

He said the victims had spent about three months in captivity.

Elon Musk

World

Elon Musk loses trillionaire status as SpaceX stock crashes

Mr Musk’s net worth declined by 31 per cent as Tesla recorded significant losses.

NationWide

Obidient Movement blasts Presidency for mocking Nigerians, downplaying hunger, hardship, insecurity nationwide

The group said that the government has failed in its primary duty of improving the welfare and security of Nigerians.

Abdul-Ganiyu Obasa

Lagos

Obasa inaugurates construction of eight roads in Agege LGA

He listed the roads as Talabi, Afolabi Lawal, Ottun and Adegbite in Ward A.

Queue at filling station

Economy

Petrol price stood at N1,596.25 per litre in May: NBS

Analysis by zone showed that the South-South recorded the highest average retail price in May.

Ogun state commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu

States

Ogun govt reiterates ban on graduation charges in schools

He urged proprietors of private schools to complement government’s efforts.