Dr Fareed Kwesi Arthur, National Coordinator of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), led a team from AfCFTA Coordination Office to pay a courtesy call on Lawrence Agyinsam, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Exim Bank (GEXIM).
In their interaction, Mr. Lawrence Agyinsam iterated the Bank’s commitment to supporting the Government of Ghana’s quest to reposition the Ghanaian economy to become an export led one and continue to serve as a catalyst in the development of Ghana’s export trade, facilitate cross border trade and make Ghana a pillar in regional and continental trade.
The GEXIM Bank CEO, meanwhile, disclosed a strategic partnership between the Bank and National AfCFTA Coordination Office to see an increase in Ghanaian exports into the African continent.
“To facilitate the transformation of Ghana’s economy into an export one by supporting and developing trade between Ghana and other countries, we have over the years introduced several interventions across various sectors. We have provided funds for several companies with the intention to export to other African countries. It is important for us to work closely to assist Ghanaian businesses to export significantly into the African continent.”
Lawrence Agyinsam
The Mandate of NCO
Dr. Fareed Kwesi Arthur, on his part, highlighted the mandate of the National AfCFTA Coordination Office, established in March 2020 under the Ministry of Trade and Industry as a central point for coordinating the Government of Ghana’s policy and strategic response to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
According to Dr. Fareed Kwesi Arthur, the NCO serves as a link between Ghanaians and the AfCFTA.
“The NCO is the liaison office between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other stakeholders in Ghana and the AfCFTA Secretariat to ensure Ghanaian businesses harness the full benefit of AfCFTA. For this reason, we welcome the call for building a strategic partnership between Ghana Exim Bank and the National AfCFTA Coordination Office.”
Dr. Fareed Kwesi Arthur
Some members of the GEXIM team at the meeting were Nana Akyaa Obeng-Adiyiah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer responsible for Finance and Administration; Michael Tetteh-Voetagbe, General Manager, Human Resources and Administration; Bright Evans Darko, Head, SME Banking; Frank Obeng, Assistant General Manager, Advisory Services; Judith Aikins, Head, Export Trade; Jonathan Christopher Koney, Assistant Manager, Corporate Affairs and International Cooperation and Grace Anderson, Snr. Officer, CEO’s Secretariat.
The visit follows the launch of the National AfCFTA Policy Framework and Action Plan on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 in Accra, which outlines interventions, geared towards the harmonisation of existing laws, programmes, policies, and regulations to boost Ghana’s trade with Africa under the AfCFTA.
