The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Associations (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng, says a lot more effort will be required to ensure the agreement lives up to expectations.

“I must say people did not take full advantage of this AfCFTA and the evidence is there for everyone to see. So, I think the earlier we sit down and discuss it the better. I believe that they (the AfCFTA Secretariat) will have to engage with the proper stakeholders than maybe the technocrats, because we are the traders, and they should talk to us.”

“They should find a way to bring all traders in Africa for us to tell them what is militating against the success of the continental free trade,” he added.

On the first of January 2021, the much-anticipated African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement commenced trading, with its headquarters in Accra.

Arguably the largest trade agreement, it is estimated to harness the potential of 1.3 billion people across Africa, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $3.4 trillion.

The major focus of the AfCFTA is to improve intra-African trade by removing barriers including duty payments, among others.

But in Ghana, indigenous businesses such as Kasapreko Company Limited and Ghandour Cosmetics Limited are reported to have faced challenges in exporting their goods to South Africa.