By: Jennifer Frimpong Wiredu
The Rwandan High Commission in Ghana has launched the first consolidated value-added agricultural products made up of coffee, tea, honey, and avocado. The products were shipped under the African Continental Free Trade Area’s Guided Trade Initiative.
Speaking at the launch and taste of the products in Accra, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Ghana, Rosemary Mbabazi, emphasised that the shipment of the products onto the Ghanaian market is a testimony to the two countries’ commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in building a business-friendly continent.
Since the signing of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, AfCTA, agreement in Rwanda in March 2018 and the subsequent inauguration of its Secretariat in August 2020 in Ghana, Rwanda, and Ghana through esteemed leadership has shown unwavering commitment to the flagship AfCFTA initiative.
Trade between Rwanda and Ghana, though beginning to increase, remains almost negligible, reflecting the story of intra-Africa trade in general, which remains at about 15 percent of Africa’s international trade.
The launch of Rwandan products on the Ghanaian market is a milestone that adds to the optimism that the low intra-continental trade phenomenon is changing.
The Rwandan High Commissioner to Ghana, Rosemary Mbabazi, speaking at the launch of the products, said, “Rwandan’s increasing engagement with Ghana has attracted a growing number of Rwandan companies that want to import from Ghana and Ghanaians looking to export to the Rwandan market to boost economies.”
The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Rwanda, Antoine Marie Kajangwe, said AfCFTA is not only promoting trade but also “helping to elevate tangible result-oriented solutions for economies”.
Rwanda is renowned for producing some of the finest quality beverages in the world.
The country produces high-quality coffee and tea, which not only reflect the hard work and dedication of its farmers but also underscore the country as a key player in the global market for high-quality tea and coffee.
The shipment of these exceptional Rwandan products to Ghana, facilitated through the Guided Trade Initiative, is a resounding success story that exemplifies the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.