Sierra Leone officials visit Ghana for insights into African Continental Free Trade Area

The tailor-made trip, from 4 to 6 June 2024, gave the delegation a chance to hear first-hand how Ghana is implementing the AfCFTA.

Sierra Leone ratified the AfCFTA in 2019. The country hopes the free trade area will help its businesses grow, especially small businesses owned by women and youth.

‘The AfCFTA must ensure that African countries who have signed up or ratified this agreement push for its implementation by fostering workable and adaptable strategies in their respective countries and avoid emulating a one-size-fits-all approach,’ said Francis Jabati, MTI Director of Policy and Planning. ‘African countries have varying geopolitical and economic dynamics that must be taken into account.’

The AfCFTA Secretariat created the Guided Trade Initiative to kick-start commercially meaningful trade under the Agreement’s rules. Sierra Leone will soon join the initiative, once its National Implementation Committee (NIC) is fully operational.

The Sierra Leone delegation, led by Chief Director Emmanuel Konjoh, learned how Ghana is successfully coordinating mechanisms for AfCFTA implementation. The delegation engaged with officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana National AfCFTA Coordination Office, the AfCFTA Secretariat, the EU-AfCFTA Technical Assistance Facility, and Ghanaian entrepreneurs.

Representatives from AfCFTA focal desks at the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs) and the Food and Drugs Authority also shared on how they are set up and the roles they play. The delegation learned how Ghana’s structures and policies support trade initiatives, including private sector integration, robust trade infrastructure development, and effective capacity-building programmes.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) facilitated the study tour under the One Trade Africa Initiative and the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) Sierra Leone. The delegation was hosted by Ghana’s National AfCFTA Coordination Office (NCO).

Learning from firsthand experience with free trade

The delegation also visited Fairafric – a chocolate maker supported by the ITC Netherlands Trust Fund V project – to explore market linkages that foster intra-Africa trade in processed goods.

This peer learning activity provided the Sierra Leone delegation with firsthand experience and knowledge that can inform and their strategies for AfCFTA implementation. By improving policy coordination and supporting the development of a strong trade ecosystem, Sierra Leone aims to replicate Ghana's successes and drive sustainable economic growth.

The delegation also identified the critical nature of National Implementation Committees in balancing private-public sector engagement for inclusive AfCFTA impact. A key takeaway for the Sierra Leone delegation was that an inter-ministerial committee could coordinate policy measures for smooth implementation.

The Ghana NCO reiterated its commitment to support Sierra Leone, including potential follow-up visits.

The study tour marked a significant milestone for Sierra Leone's implementation of the AfCFTA. The ultimate goal is to boost trade, create jobs, and foster economic growth. ITC will soon facilitate a national training workshop anchored in the ITC-Afreximbank ‘How to Export with the AfCFTA’ curriculum for the private sector and trade support institutions. 

About the projects

The One Trade Africa (OTA) initiative supports the accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). OTA) and is committed to empowering MSMEs, women, and youth to harness opportunities in this unified market. It offers comprehensive technical assistance, enhancing enterprise capabilities to explore export opportunities within Africa and globally.

The West African Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) in Sierra Leone aims to enhance the competitiveness of the cocoa, palm oil and cassava sectors to boost the country's connection to regional and global value chains, create more jobs and strengthen its resilience against economic chocs. It is funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with UNIDO.