President Akufo-Addo has congratulated former President of Niger and leader of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Mahamadou Issoufou, on his role in ensuring the birth and implementation of AfCFTA.
According to the President, the AfCFTA leader advocated for the “inclusivity” of women and youth in the trade.
He further lauded the former Niger President’s understanding of the task at hand in seeing to AfCFTA’s successful implementation.
President Akufo-Addo made this revelation at the unveiling of a bust in honour of the former President of Niger, Issofou Mahamadou at an AfCFTA conference held today, July 16, 2021.
“President Issoufou at the very outset understood the successful execution of his mandate would have ripple effect on the life of all Africans which serves as a boost for small and medium scale enterprises”.
President Akufo-Addo reckons his role in the AfCFTA guaranteed ready market for women in trade and youth entrepreneurship.
“He was responsible for the successful conclusion of phase one negotiations of the AfCFTA. He saw to it, that the process of selecting a host country for the Secretariat was fair and transparent. The Ghanaian people are grateful to the African Union under his guidance for being so selected. He advocated for the broadly and inclusivity of the AfCFTA by including the protocol on women and youth in trade and help mobilize hundreds of millions of dollars in support of AfCFTA negotiations and implementation”.
Honour to Mahamadou Issoufou, well deserved
Additionally, President Akufo-Addo believes the achievement of Niger’s former President is not only laudable, but will be remembered by posterity.
Furthermore, he explained that it was under the leadership of Mahamadou Issoufou that a substantial number of countries ratified for AfCFTA.
“As I indicated at this same venue… no one has done more to ensure the coming into force of the AfCFTA than President Mahamadou Issofou. Our posterity will reward his name accordingly. Under his leadership, the agreement establishing the AfCFTA was signed by 54 states of the AU and to date has been ratified by 40 member states. Through his work, we’ve embarked on a journey to consolidate this continent into a single trade area; one Africa common market.
“As a result of President Issoufou’s relentless efforts, we’ve taken great strides towards realizing the Africa we want. This ceremony, unveiling a statue in his honour of the Secretariat of the AfCFTA hangs on the heels of President’ Issofou’s recent receipt of the 2020 Mo Ibrahim prize for achievement in African leadership. Also, for his effort in helping address the security and humanitarian challenges facing the Sahel”.
In concluding, President Akufo-Addo expressed his optimism over the former Niger President achieving greater strides.
“The honour being bestowed on him today is thoroughly well deserved. Congratulations to you my brother President Mahamadou Issofou Even though you look like you’re enjoying your retirement, we know that your contribution for the progress of the people of West Africa is not over. May God bless Mahamadou Issofou, the AfCFTA, mother Africa and us all.
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