The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration says Ghana is at the forefront of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.

According to the Deputy Minister, Mavis Nkasah-Boadu, the government has a keen interest in implementing the ACFTA initiative because the framework has provided a distinct platform for African businesses.

She said this while speaking at the just-ended 3rd Made-in-Ghana Bazaar held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), spearheaded by the Ministry.

“The government of Ghana is keen on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. The ACFTA framework has provided a unique opportunity for intra-African trade and Ghana is at the forefront of the implementation of this agreement,” the Minister emphasized.

She added that Ghana has been able to trade with other African countries over the years, courtesy of the ACFTA-guided initiative, which was launched in October 2022 to pilot the implementation of the agreement.

Mrs. Nkasah-Boadu further noted that the country has recorded a surge in quality Ghanaian products, placing emphasis on how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have played an integral part in Ghana’s economic transformation.

“I’m happy to note that we have recorded a surge in quality Ghanaian goods and services. The Ghana Standards Authority informs us that over 70% of indigenous products passed international quality assessments, a good development we’re witnessing.”

The deputy minister said the ministry will continue to work collaboratively with foreign partners to identify extra markets for Ghanaian-made goods and services. This influenced the decision to organise the bazaar to aid in compiling the data of exhibitors and help identify markets in order to expand their market to other nations.

Themed “Promoting Made-in-Ghana Goods and Services for Economic Prosperity,” Mrs. Nkasah-Boadu emphasised that the major goal of the three-day event is to facilitate the penetration of Ghanaian products into the foreign market through Ghana’s missions abroad.

She urged manufacturers to acquire the required steps and learn best practices across the world that will help them produce international-standard products so as to build integrity for Ghanaian products. 

The Made-in-Ghana Bazaar is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, which was launched in 2018 following the government’s decision to re-establish the economic trade and investment bureau of the ministry in 2017.

The 2024 edition witnessed a showcase of a variety of Ghanaian-made products and services at the AICC premises from May 23 to 25. Hundreds of patrons trooped to the venue to make purchases from participating exhibitors.