Ghana, Gabon Look To Boost Trade And Investment Through AfCFTA

Ghana and Gabon have pledged to strengthen trade and investment by taking advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA), following bilateral talks between President John Dramani Mahama and Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Accra.

The talks, held at the Jubilee House on Tuesday as part of President Oligui Nguema’s three-day official visit to Ghana, focused on turning the two countries’ longstanding political ties into stronger economic partnerships.

The two leaders said they would work to expand bilateral trade, increase investment and encourage greater private sector collaboration.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to using the AfCFTA to promote intra-African trade and deepen regional economic integration.

As part of the discussions, the two presidents identified several sectors for closer cooperation, including trade and investment, mining and mineral value addition, oil and gas, energy, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and climate action, maritime affairs, education, digital transformation, health, tourism, and defence and security.

They directed the relevant ministries and institutions to develop practical frameworks to support collaboration in these areas.

The visit also resulted in the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding.

The first establishes political consultations between the governments of Ghana and Gabon, while the second promotes cooperation in diplomatic training between Ghana’s Foreign Service Institute and Gabon’s Institute of Diplomatic Studies.

According to the two governments, the agreements are expected to strengthen institutional cooperation, deepen diplomatic engagement and create new opportunities for collaboration across key sectors.