President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to push for the inclusion of the Caribbean-African Continental Free Trade Area during his four-day tour in Jamaica.
The President, speaking at a joint press conference with the Jamaican Prime Minister after bilateral talks, affirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening trade and economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, promising to strengthen cross- continental commercial ties.
President Mahama emphasised the need for African and Caribbean nations to come together and leverage their history, culture, and economic interests to boost and build stronger and mutually beneficial trade relationships.
He noted that Africans and Caribbean nations have always maintained diplomatic and cultural relationships for decades, yet trade among them remains far below its potential.
President Directs Fastrack Implementation of Ongoing Reforms
President Mahama used the opportunity to task two key companies operating in Ghana’s trade and logistics sector to serve as front liners to ensure that the implementation of this new vision sees the light of day.
He directed the companies to quickly inform relevant authorities whenever they encounter operational challenges and to take all the necessary regulatory actions without delay to fast-track the process in making the African Caribbean trade relationship a reality.
“Already, we are beginning to see an uptick since the African Continental Free Trade Area came. I believe that now that we have activated the permanent joint commission for cooperation to give us a framework and give us a measurable tool for looking at the progress we are making,
“We have agreed we will meet every two years, vice versa in Kingston and in Accra. So, if we meet, we can tell what progress we have made, and if we need to make any adjustments, we can do so.”
President John Dramani Mahama
According to the President, Ghana is very much prepared to provide institutional backing needed to facilitate investment flows, trade financing, and business-to-business linkages between these two regions.
He mentioned the importance of the use of the nation’s own currencies in the African Caribbean trade business.
‘’And once that is done, it will make it easier because we don’t need to exchange our currencies into somebody else’s currency before we buy tea. Kenya or Morocco buys mangoes from Ghana. We will just use our own currencies to pay for and the settlement will be done digitally, and so that will enhance trade volume”.
President John Dramani Mahama
Trade experts have long argued that the Caribbean and Africa have many similarities and resemblances within the cultural and historical context, yet they do so little to bridge the gap between their trade and business sectors.
The limitation could come from logistical constraints, weak transport links, and limited market information, which have kept bilateral trade relatively modest.
Mahama Demands Political Will to Overcome Challenges
President Mahama acknowledged these challenges but insisted that political will and coordinated actions can overcome them. He told the companies that quick reporting of challenges would enable the government to intervene before small issues escalate into a major obstacle.
The President’s directive signals a more hands-on approach to trade facilitation by naming specific companies and giving direct instructions. President Mahama appears to be moving beyond rhetoric to practical implementation. The move is also seen as a way of demonstrating Ghana’s readiness to assume a leadership role in African Caribbean Cooperation.
Also, Ghana’s Ministry for Trade and Industry is expected to work closely with its Caribbean counterparts to identify immediate opportunities and resolve regulatory hurdles. The push also fits into its industrialization agenda.
The government has been seeking to attract foreign investments into sectors such as agro processing, textiles, and renewable energy, areas where Caribbean investors could bring both capital and technical expertise.
In return, Ghana offers access to a market of over 30 million people and, through AfCFTA, a continental market of more than 1.3 billion consumers. President Mahama’s message was warmly received by participants at the meeting. The President concluded by reiterating that Ghana is open for business and is ready to welcome Caribbean investors.
He described the relationship between Africa and the Caribbean as more than just commercial ties, calling it a partnership rooted in a common history and a shared future. As Ghana and other African nations continue to open their markets under the AfCFTA framework, the Caribbean and African trade agreements.
Whether President Mahama’s directive leads to a measurable increase in trade will depend on the commitments being turned into concrete deals and sustainable business relationships. Ghana is indeed ready to lead, and President Mahama expects every actor involved to act with urgency, transparency, and a shared sense of purpose.
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