Ghana has called on the Commonwealth to prioritise the removal of tariffs and trade barriers among member states to boost economic cooperation and expand trade opportunities.
Speaking at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London, held under the theme “The Commonwealth at a Moment of Strategic Opportunity,” Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasised the need for the organisation to adopt an open trade agenda.
“Ghana commends the Commonwealth for the reforms that have been well outlined,” Ablakwa said, noting that the bloc has an opportunity to set itself apart globally by promoting economic diplomacy and facilitating intra-Commonwealth trade.
“We must present the Commonwealth as a different multilateral organisation that does not believe in tariff wars,” he added, urging the removal of obstacles that impede trade flows.
“We should remove trade barriers and ensure that we enhance our fortunes as we pursue economic diplomacy,” Ablakwa said.
He also highlighted Ghana’s leadership role in continental trade integration, pointing out that the country hosts the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to establish the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
