Ghana’s President Proposes Caribbean Inclusion in AfCFTA

Accra: Ghana's President, John Mahama, has expressed his ambition to extend the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to include Caribbean nations once he assumes the role of Chair of the African Union in 2027. This proposal aims to create a more integrated trade network between Africa and the Caribbean. According to Deutsche Welle, Mahama believes that incorporating Caribbean countries into AfCFTA could significantly enhance trade, investment, and business partnerships between the two regions. This initiative could potentially unlock new markets for African products while providing Caribbean businesses with access to a market comprising over a billion people. The plan raises the question of whether Africa should prioritize strengthening AfCFTA internally or if the time is ripe to include the Caribbean in the world's largest free trade area. The potential expansion of AfCFTA could redefine economic relationships and provide mutual benefits to both African and Caribbean nations.