Top media figures from across Africa are rallying for the formation of a pan-African group of trade journalists to champion the agenda of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). These media personalities are advocating for the establishment of an African Chamber of Commerce led by individual countries, recognizing it as a pivotal step towards advancing the AfCFTA’s objectives.
The call for this pivotal initiative took place at a webinar jointly hosted by the African Prosperity Network (APN) and the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana. The webinar served as a platform to advocate for the widespread propagation of the AfCFTA’s principles and its economic benefits throughout the continent. It also aimed to strategize on how African media can effectively engage audiences and promote information dissemination services across the region.
Gabby Otchere-Darko, the Founder/Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, emphasized the immense significance of the AfCFTA, labeling it as one of Africa’s most significant projects. He stressed the need for concerted efforts to ensure its seamless implementation. Furthermore, he highlighted the vital role of the media in elucidating the benefits of free trade to individuals across the continent.
Acknowledging the pivotal role of the media, Otchere-Darko drew a parallel to the Brexit situation and its media coverage, illustrating how powerful media can influence major economic decisions. The webinar focused on four thematic areas through which the media can support the full implementation of the AfCFTA: opportunities and challenges in the AfCFTA, the media’s role in engaging citizens, fostering communication beyond regional blocs, and the unhindered flow of information regarding the AfCFTA across the continent.
Dr. Tsotetsi Makong, the chief technical advisor at the AfCFTA Secretariat, and Charles Onyango-Obbo, an author and columnist at the Nation Media Group, shed light on the existing challenges and opportunities encompassing the creation of a unified African market. They emphasized youth unemployment as a prevailing challenge, emphasizing the pivotal role that the AfCFTA could play in either exacerbating or resolving this issue.
Additionally, the necessity of a pan-African chamber of commerce for the success of the AfCFTA was underscored, emphasizing the need for credible institutions to facilitate due diligence and promote intra-African transactions. The speakers stressed the urgency of forming a network of journalists across Africa to consistently address pertinent issues related to the AfCFTA.
Yofi Grant, the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, highlighted Africa’s strategic position as a global hub of opportunities. He accentuated the continent’s abundant mineral resources, burgeoning population, and expansive arable land, underlining Africa as the nexus of future global development and growth.
Grant emphasized that Africa must collectively embark on the journey of implementing the AfCFTA to elevate its status in the global development arena. He emphasized the pivotal role of the media as the driving force behind the continent’s pursuit of this transformative agenda.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), organized by the Africa Prosperity Network in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, will be hosted in January 2024. The APD 2024 retreat, which will include a presidential dinner gala and the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards ceremony, symbolizes a significant milestone in Africa’s economic and developmental discourse.
To engage with this transformative dialogue and be part of shaping Africa’s economic future, registration for the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024 is now open at: [registration link]
The significance of empowering the media to champion the AfCFTA cannot be overstated, as it represents a pivotal step towards a prosperous and interconnected African future.
