Shipping sector vital for AfCFTA success — GSA

The success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) hinges on deliberate efforts to strengthen shipping infrastructure and streamline processes across Africa, Head of Shipper Services at the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Monica Josiah, has stated.

Madam Monica Josiah, who stated this at the opening ceremony of the Ghana Expo 2024 in Tanzania, stressed that trade flows under the AfCFTA agreement would be obstructed without investments to upgrade African ports, optimise customs procedures and facilitate cargo shipments between nations.

She, therefore, called for collaboration between African governments and the shipping industry to identify and address bottlenecks in the trading system.

The Ghana Expo aimed to boost trade partnerships between Ghana and Tanzania under the AfCFTA framework.

Madam Josiah indicated that realising the full potential of intra-African trade requires fixing inefficiencies across the entire shipping value chain.

Her comments highlighted the shipping sector's central role in making the AfCFTA a success.

“The industry must work hand-in-hand with African nations to enable smooth trade flows across the continent,” she added.

Over 60 Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises introduced their products and services to the East African market in 2023.

The Expo allowed Ghanaian enterprises to explore new export opportunities in the Tanzanian market.

It also promoted collaboration between Ghana and Tanzania to achieve the AfCFTA's goals of increasing intra-African trade.