President Nana Akufo-Addo will on Monday, August 17, 2020, hand over the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Building to the African Union Commission (AUC) in Accra.

The Secretariat, which will administer the free trade agreement for creating a single market across 55 countries, is located along the Liberia Road in Accra.

Together, the 55 countries committing to the programme have a population of 1.2 billion and a total Gross Domestic Product of about US$ 2.5 trillion.

So far, 54 countries have signed the Agreement, with 28 countries ratifying same.

Ghana was selected by member states to host the AfCFTA Secretariat in July 2019 during the 12th African Union (AU) Extraordinary Summit held in Niamey, Niger.

As part of the obligations and commitments under the Host Country Agreement, Ghana was required to provide a fully-furnished office complex as the Headquarters for the AfCFTA Secretariat and an official residence for the Secretary-General.

Many have said that Ghana’s hosting of the Secretariat will promote the country as an attractive regional and investment hub in Africa, boost economic activities, and provide job opportunities for Ghanaians.

The handing-over ceremony will be attended by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the newly-elected Secretary-General of AfCFTA, the Speaker of Parliament, Chairman of the Council of State, Senior Government Officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a limited number of other guests from the Private Sector and other Public Sector Organisations have been invited to witness the ceremony.

The ceremony will be broadcast live through local and international television networks and social media platforms to a global audience.

Source: Citibusinessnews.com