African countries have been asked to expand their logistics and transportation networks in order to keep the African Free Trade Continental Area's (AfCFTA) goal alive, or risk losing its benefit.

Member countries should enhance their regional value chains and build and efficient transportation system across the continent, a Deputy Minister for Trade and Industries, Herbert Krapa has said.

He called on African countries to build links that improve their abilities and capacities to feed industry in a sustainable manner, while speaking at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transports (CILT) African forum.

“To drive the vision of AfCFTA, Africa must build a multi-model transport network across the continent bringing together infrastructure, equipment and digital solution needed to support the demands of trading under the agreement”, he said.

The President of the CILT, Ingineer Mark Afum Amoamah, said his organization will collaborate with other state agencies to ensure trade facilitation in Ghana and beyond.

“The good thing is we train our professionals through the logistics line, we give them the skills needed to help them to manage logistics efficiently, we will continue to partner other state agencies in facilitating trade”, he stated.

CILT Ghana represents and is a branch of CILT International in Ghana.

It was established and registered in 1965 as The Chartered Institute of Transport (CIT). The name CIT in Ghana was changed to CILT in January 2002 following the international merger between CIT and The Institute of Logistics (IL).

The institute is bent on creating a strong model for growth based on regional development.