A section of Honorable Members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Defence and Foreign Relation led by Hon. Charles Kilonzo currently on a diplomatic mission to Accra, Ghana have visited the recently established African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
In an engagement with the Organization’s Secretary General H.E. Wamkele Mene, the members accompanied by the Kenya High Commission in Accra, Ghana H.E, Ambassador Eliphas Mugendi Barine sought to understand the operations of the organization and achievement realized since its inception in 2018.
They hailed the initiative terming it progressive and one that opens up the Africa region especially offering trading opportunities to the East Africa and the West Africa regions.
In his address H.E. Wamkele Mene pointed out that the operationalization of the secretariat in the middle of the Corona Virus Pandemic was a great milestone and the beginning of a promising future of an organization that is already demonstrating resilience.
“We have managed to set up the secretariat amidst the Covid. 19 challenges. We have had over 38 African nations ratify the trade agreement so far hence creating room for further engagements” said Mene.
He applauded the delegation for being the first ever parliamentary delegation to visit the secretariat saying that Kenya was one of the first countries to also ratify the AfCFTA treaty hence a great gesture of interest and good will for business and trade relations among the two nations and the greater African continent.
He further called on the rest of the African countries that were yet to ratify the treaty to do so given the immense opportunities being presented by the Free Trade Area.
Hon. Charles Kilonzo urged the secretariat to move with speed and implement the policies put in place to create room for trading activities among the African nations.
The Committee pledged to push for the enactment of the necessary legislations required to move the treaty forward.The committee also met officials from the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as business stakeholders from the Association of Ghana Industries where they chattered ways of enhancing trade relations between Kenya and Ghana.
The business sector called for the establishment of a business council which will enable member states to initiate and implement realistic trade policies among nations.
Members of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations in the diplomatic mission to Ghana include; Hon. Charles Kilonzo, Hon. Ernest Ogesi Kivai, Hon. Elijah Memusi Kanchory, Hon. Maj. (Rtd.) Bashir Sheikh Abdullah and Hon. Zachary Thuku Kwenya.
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