Remove bottlenecks to intra-African trade — Veep

The Seventh ECOWAS Trade Fair opened in Accra yesterday, with a call on African leaders to remove artificial bottlenecks that hinder trade among their respective countries.

The Vice President, Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, who made the call in an address read on his behalf, said the removal of the bottlenecks would go a long way to ensure effective regional integration.

“The participation by a mixture of economic operators is an indication of the private sector to play a lead role in our economic revival. As a sub-region, we owe it to the future generation to make sure that factors that inhabit free trade among ourselves are removed. It is only when we remove such barriers that we can reap from the integration,” he said.

ECOWAS Fair

Ghana is hosting the ECOWAS Trade Fair for the second time, having hosted the event in 1999. This year’s fair is on the theme: “Regional Integration Through Trade”.

The fair ends on November 11, 2013.

Goods ranging from household items to clothing are on display at the 12-day event which is being held under auspices of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the ECOWAS Commission.

Conferences, workshops, seminars and meetings, have been scheduled to discuss African trade and related issues, as part of the fair.

Mr Amissah-Arthur, whose speech was read by a former Inspector General of Police, Mr Christopher Korbla Dewornu, expressed the hope that the fair would provide the platform for businesses to position themselves and tap into long term business prospects to revamp their fortunes.

He was optimistic that the fair would enable them to improve their competitiveness, for them to take advantage of the huge business prospects in the global market.

“The formation of the ECOWAS was a prudent decision, informed both by history and reason. For as evidence suggests, integration amongst the peoples and communities within the borders of West Africa Community predated pre-colonial history”.

Trade Minister

Welcoming the participants, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said aside enabling countries to showcase their goods, the fair would provide the platform for networking.

“I, therefore, challenge African leaders that we no longer have any excuse to defer or postpone our efforts at regional integration.

“With a population of 300 million, 54 countries and an emerging vibrant private sector, we certainly cannot postpone having a common currency and a common market within the ECOWAS region,” he stressed.

The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Toga McIntosh, underscored the need for effective regional integration and the harmonisation of activities towards boosting trade.

He said countries within the sub-region should ensure the provision of infrastructure, including roads, railway systems and storage facilities to enhance trade.

By Emmanuel Bonney/Daily Graphic/Ghana