Rwanda has officially started trading with Ghana through the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) Guided Trade Initiative (GTI), marking a significant step toward increasing intra-African trade. The milestone was celebrated in Accra with the inauguration of a Made-In-Rwanda exhibition, showcasing premium Rwandan agro-processed goods—such as coffee, tea, honey, and avocado products—now available in the Ghanaian market.
The GTI, a pilot initiative, enables selected African countries to conduct meaningful trade under AfCFTA, allowing Rwanda, along with Ghana, Cameroun, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Tunisia, to participate. The AfCFTA Secretariat is supporting the trading process, from shipment to customs clearance, and monitoring its impact to refine trade documents and procedures across the continent.
Rwandan High Commissioner to Ghana, Rosemary Mbabazi, highlighted this shipment as a strong reflection of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the growing partnership between Rwanda and Ghana. She noted that the AfCFTA Agreement is helping dismantle trade barriers, opening the door to greater intra-African trade, which could transform the continent’s economy. Increased trade between the two nations has drawn Rwandan companies interested in Ghana’s market and Ghanaian exporters seeking opportunities in Rwanda.
AfCFTA representative Constance Moser praised Rwanda’s high-quality agricultural products, emphasizing the value of Rwanda’s coffee and tea in global markets. The initiative, she added, embodies a shared vision for Africa’s prosperity and self-reliance, building economic connections that benefit both countries.
Kofi Addo, Chief Commercial Officer at Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, stressed the urgency for Africa to leverage its agricultural resources as the continent’s youth population is projected to be the world’s largest by 2040. Addo urged African nations to focus on organic agriculture, as global health consciousness rises, positioning the continent for growth and self-sufficiency.
