The Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway has called on African leaders to work together to ensure the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Delivering a statement in Parliament to mark the African Union (AU) Day, she indicated that the initiative when fully implemented will propel the continent to achieve its Agenda 2063.

“While dealing with the pandemic and saving lives, Africa continent must prefer urgent action on plans and programmes that will advance continental trade and development.

“We must move ahead with the most ambitious steps towards pan African integration with the creation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, ensuring it is operationalised as soon as possible,” she urged.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is a free trade area created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement among 54 of the 55 African Union nations.

The plan was to have the agreement come into force on July 1, 2020, but due to the current global crisis, the implementation of the initiative is uncertain.

However, the Foreign Minister stressed that intracontinental trade will immensely help the continent gain financial independence especially now that Covid-19 has derailed the economic development Africa has achieved so far.

Admitting that the Covid-19 pandemic will adversely impact the economic growth of Africa, the MP for Anyaa-Sowutuom suggested a collective and innovative attribute to stabilise the continent post the pandemic.

“The most effective ways for Africans to reverse the effects of the coronavirus and prepare for any future pandemic is to access our independent in the economic, scientific and political terms.

“The result of self-sufficiency can be achieved by boosting intracontinental trade, strengthening our manufacturing base, departing from resource-dependent economic principles, improving the financial sector, investing more into scientific research and adopting innovative contingency plan to contain any potential economical fallout,” she listed.

She was also optimistic that Africa can withstand the current crisis and come out from the pandemic successfully.

“The pandemic has put to test the determination of our continent, and through our collective efforts and resilience we can position Africa in the right place among other nations.”