AFENYO-MARKIN APPEALS FOR BETTER TRADE.

The 3rd Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Hon Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin called for a renewed commitment to push better trading opportunities among ECOWAS countries. 

Speaking at the Crans Montana Forum in Casablanca, Morocco, Mr Afenyo Markin cited some measures to strengthen this commitment. He said streamlining ports charges and custom procedures, investing in cross -border transport infrastructure, promoting regional industrial policies to reduce destructive competition and fostering trust and policy coordination across the continent will help to build a fluid, predictable and cost effective regional trade system. 

Hon Afenyo Markin lamented that, many landlocked nations like Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso continue to depend heavily on coastal neighbours for access to global markets. 

He added that inefficiencies in port management, infrastructure and security risks along key corridors like Dakar, Abijan, Lome, Tema and Cotonou render regional trade uncompetitive. 

"We talk about regional integration, yet transport networks between Ghana and Lagos remain underdeveloped." 

The minority leader in Ghana's parliament cautioned that the exits of some Sahelian countries from ECOWAS complicate regional trade policies.

He further explained that, introducing uncertainty around free movement,trade rules and customs protocol will leave our people with no choice but to look beyond Africa for trade.

Report by PKB