Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, has urged Africans especially the youth to take ownership of the new trade initiative which in his estimation portends the solution to moving the African continent from the periphery to the core of the global economy.
Speaking at a town hall organized by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in collaboration with the Government of Zambia at the inaugural edition of the AfCFTA Youth Symposium come August 21–23 in Lusaka, Zambia, the first secretary-general pointed out that “the development of our continent is not going to come from anybody else except from us (Africans)”.
He added that “we have to take ownership when it seems that the challenges and difficulties are so entrenched. 72 years ago the European Countries established the coal and steel pact, many challenges along the way but 72 years it took them to get to where they are today, so we must recognize that there will be challenges, there will be difficulties, there will be instability as we see unfortunately in Sudan.

"Countries will experience balance of payment effects and not be able to implement the agreement, these are challenges that are going to be there but my view is that if we don’t take our own economic destiny into our own hands we will be in the periphery of the global economy.”
The AfCFTA Agreement establishes a Free Trade Area (FTA) which will bring together all 55 member states of the African Union, covering a market of more than 1.3 billion people.
As part of moves to promote the inclusion of women and youth the African Continental Free Trade Area says it is taking advantage of the youth symposium to explore the role of young people in the larger scheme of Africa’s economic development and the challenges hindering their meaningful contribution to such development, including participation in intra-African trade.

The Symposium also explored ways of ensuring young people truly benefit from the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.
Also deliberations amongst the youth at the symposium is also expected to contribute to the AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade which is currently being negotiated, in line with the commitment of the 13th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union to “broaden inclusiveness” in the implementation of the AfCFTA and the decision of the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly to include the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade in the AfCFTA.
Latest Stories
-
2 arrested for impersonating Gold Board officials, extortion
6 minutes -
ECOWAS urges member states to equip border personnel with multilingual skills
9 minutes -
Oppong Nkrumah files Private Members Bill to block public spending without NDPC approval
26 minutes -
Defence Minister inaugurates governing board of Veterans Administration, Ghana
33 minutes -
World Youth Skills Day: NYA boss says Apprenticeship Programme is key to youth entrepreneurship
46 minutes -
At the Crossroads of Memory and Nationhood: Sekyi-Otu pays tribute to F. L. Bartels at book launch
55 minutes -
Minority MPs demand probe into Black Volta mine deal
60 minutes -
Importers lament difficulty in getting US dollars to buy from banks
1 hour -
Minority caucus alleges regulatory breach in E&P’s Black Volta gold deal
1 hour -
Fuel price hike vindicates warnings over controversial levy – Minority
1 hour -
FirstBank Ghana Women’s Network inspires future leaders at OLA Girls’ SHS
1 hour -
BoG to hold emergency MPC meeting on July 17, 2025
1 hour -
Crystal Heights International School graduates over 200 pupils
1 hour -
I’ve become a threat to the NDC – Hawa Koomson
1 hour -
WAIFEM workshop urges regional collaboration on currency management and forecasting
2 hours