Ghana and its East African counterpart Rwanda, are looking to explore bilateral opportunities in business, tourism and other mutually beneficial economic prospects under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
A trade delegation from Ghana in March this year, paid a visit to Rwanda to promote trade between the two countries with anticipating a collaboration between both countries under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The visit by Ghana’s trade delegation has been reciprocated by a 34 member Rwanda trade and investment delegation comprising officials and stakeholders in the private sector.
Presently, bilateral trade data between the two countries available at the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GEPA), indicates that trade between Ghana and Rwanda is extremely low, at less than $1 million.
There is however, growing confidence among policymakers and businesses that measures put in place to expand trade volumes between the two countries, would yield significant results in the coming years.
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The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Rwanda Development Board are leading the charge through conversations to leverage resources by both countries for mutually beneficial trade opportunities.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a business breakfast session in Accra Rwandan Ambassador to Ghana, Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, said the visit by the Rwandan trade delegation offers both countries the opportunity to provide solutions to the challenges limiting intra-African trade between the two countries.
“We are also using this opportunity to call on Ghanaian cocoa processing plants to invest in Rwanda and produce indigenous African chocolates instead of the imported ones we know in Rwanda. We are also ready to import our coffees and other agricultural products in order to set up businesses here,” she averred.
Speaking also at the business breakfast session was CEO of GEPA, Dr. Afua Asabea Asare, who noted that the existing relationship between Ghana and Rwanda has been rekindled due to the passion exhibited by presidents of the two countries, President Akufo-Addo and Paul Kagame to tap into opportunities under the AfCFTA.
“At GEPA, we are committed to boosting Ghana’s trade volumes with countries on the continent under the AfCFTA and Rwanda is a key partner in our plans,” she asserted.
