Social media report of tension at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is untrue, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has said.
A statement signed by Patrick Y. Nimo, Chief Director, Ministry of Trade and Industry, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the attention of the Ministry had been drawn to a social media report carried on an online portal on March 14th, 2021 titled “Secretary General of AfCFTA threatens to sack all Ghanaian employees”.
It said the report alleges a rift between Ghana officials and foreign nationals working at the (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra.
“The Ministry of Trade and Industry wishes on behalf of the Government of Ghana to state emphatically and unequivocally that there is no such rift or tension between the Ghanaian nationals and their foreign counterparts at the Secretariat,” it said.
“The report is not only false and misleading but disingenuous and is designed to cause disaffection between the two groups of officials working at the Secretariat and it is also intended to jeopardize the cordial relations between the Government of Ghana and the leadership of the AfCFTA Secretariat.”
The statement said since August 2020, when the Secretariat was formally commissioned, the Government of Ghana in consultation with Mr Wamkele Mene, the Secretary General of the AfCFTA, deployed a team of experienced Ghanaian professionals and experts for a transition period as an Operational Support Team (OST) to assist the Secretary General to commence operational activities, whiles the formal process of recruitment was activated.
It said the OST, since its deployment, had had a harmonious working relationship with the Secretary General and his initial team made up of foreign nationals.
“It is to be understood that the OST from the onset has been intended to be a short-term transitional arrangement until permanent staff for the Secretariat are engaged,” it said.
“It is therefore, erroneous to create the impression, as the report suggests, that the Secretary General is averse to working with Ghanaian nationals.”
It said Ghana as a member of the African Union (AU), like any other member state had a specific quota for nationals to apply for positions and work in the AfCFTA Secretariat.
It said in this regard, when the AU recruit process for permanent staff for the Secretariat commences, interested citizens many apply on a competitive basis to be considered for recruitment to the AfCFTA Secretariat.
“The claims made by the said report that the Secretary-General is attempting to sideline Ghanaian nationals are false,” it said.
The statement said the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration would continue to work closely with the AfCFTA Secretariat to ensure Ghana harnesses the full range of benefits from the AfCFTA as a host country.
Latest Stories
-
NSMQ star Jochebed Adwoa Sutherland sweeps 12 awards at UG Vice-Chancellor’s Ceremony
14 mins -
Ghana’s Education Quality ranked 125 out of 183 countries in latest Global Youth Development Index
39 mins -
Emma Stone wants people to use her real first name
43 mins -
FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Sundowns, Esperance join Al Ahly and Wydad as CAF representatives
5 hours -
CAFCL: Al Ahly set up historic final with ES Tunis
5 hours -
We didn’t sneak out 10 BVDs; they were auctioned as obsolete equipment – EC
9 hours -
King Charles to resume public duties after progress in cancer treatment
9 hours -
Arda Guler scores on first start in La Liga as Madrid beat Real Sociedad
9 hours -
Fatawu Issahaku’s Leicester City secures Premier League promotion after Leeds defeat
10 hours -
Anticipation builds as Junior Speller hosts nationwide auditions
10 hours -
Etse Sikanku: The driver’s mate conundrum
11 hours -
IMF Deputy Chief worried large chunk of Eurobonds is used to service debt
11 hours -
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II celebrates 25 years of peaceful rule on golden stool
11 hours -
We have enough funds to pay accruing benefits; we’ve never missed pension payments since 1991 – SSNIT
11 hours -
Let’s embrace shared vision and propel National Banking College – First Deputy Governor
12 hours