Ghana: Parliamentary Advisor Hanaa Ben Kheir Participates in Evaluating the Implementation of the Trade Initiative as Part of the African Parliament’s Duties
Parliamentary advisor Hanaa Ben Kheir, a member of the Moroccan group in the African Parliament and a member of the Committee on Trade, Migration, and Customs, is participating in an official parliamentary mission to the Republic of Ghana from October 27 to 30, 2025, to assess the progress of the trade initiative and discuss the mechanisms for activating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The mission, led by a delegation from the Committee on Trade, Migration, and Customs of the African Parliament, aims to monitor member states’ efforts in implementing the continental free trade area, support African economic integration, and promote the African Union’s protocol on the free movement of people.
During the visit, the delegation held official meetings with the Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament and members of the relevant committees on trade and migration. The importance of parliamentary cooperation in harmonizing legislation and enhancing economic cohesion among the continent’s countries was emphasized.
On the sidelines of the mission, Ms. Hanaa Ben Kheir engaged in discussions with Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, during which they exchanged views on the prospects for African economic cooperation and ways to empower women and youth in investment and trade fields. Both sides stressed the need for coordinated efforts to achieve a competitive and sustainable continental economy.
Meetings also included a session with Dr. Joseph Oping, President of the Ghana Traders Union, along with several union members, where they explored mechanisms to enhance trade exchanges and encourage African–African partnerships based on solidarity and common interests.
Additionally, the committee delegation held meetings with the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Accra, where they reviewed the progress made in implementing the agreement and discussed issues related to financing, digitization, and the harmonization of customs procedures.
The Moroccan advisor participated in sessions with civil society organizations working in trade and migration, addressing the challenges hindering the movement of goods and people across African borders and ways to overcome them.
The delegation’s program includes a field visit to the joint border center between Ghana and Togo to observe the unified border crossing experience before concluding the mission on October 30, when final recommendations will be submitted to the African Parliament in Johannesburg to enhance trade and economic integration among the continent’s nations.
