Ghana positioned as African trade gateway via AfCFTA

Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, has highlighted Ghana’s strategic role as a gateway to the African continent due to its position as the home of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. Speaking at the Asante Business Summit, she emphasized that Ghana can serve as a platform for production and innovation to access broader African markets.

Benson advocated for a collaborative approach to economic growth, suggesting that the alignment of traditional institutions, government policy, private sector capital, and the diaspora can create substantial opportunities. She specifically noted the importance of traditional leadership, such as the Manhyia Palace, in providing social cohesion and local legitimacy for economic projects.

Additionally, Benson called for increased public-private partnerships to bolster Ghana’s creative industries, including music, arts, and tourism. She argued that while the government provides essential funding, the private sector must also invest in infrastructure, such as film studios, to help project Ghanaian culture globally and drive international tourism.