APN CONFERS HONORARY MEMBERSHIP UPON THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA

APN Group led by APN Chairman Dr. Joe Tackie met with the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia on Monday 17th October, 2022 at the Jubilee House. 

The meeting presented an opportunity to formally introduce APN to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana while highlighting the role of APN in attaining a successful African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

The Chairman expressed focus on women and the youth within the activities of APN as well as African Continental Free Trade Area sensitization programmes. Honing in on Africa's population potential by 2050, he elaborated on the necessity of youth involvement within AfCFTA and how if properly mobilized, could effectively make Africa a global leader in the coming 4th Industrial Revolution.

The Chairman emphasized the role of women within the mentioned 4th Industrial Revolution, considering that women comprise the larger population in Africa. He cited further that women constitute the majority of the present trading population across the continent and as such, focus on improving the capacities of women in trade in Africa is not an option.

The Chairman of APN further inform the Vice President of the international nature of APN with representatives from across the world as evidenced by 2 representatives of the University of Cincinnati present at the meeting. He expressed the importance of this international community for carrying out the global sensitization agenda of AfCFTA across the world. 

The Chairman proceeded to respectfully confer Honorary Membership of APN on His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia; to which the Vice President warmly accepted.

He made known the strong ties that exist between the AfCFTA Secretariat and APN Group and especially, the relationship established with the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene.

He cited the acknowledgement of the Secretary General on the unique role played by APN in the realization of AfCFTA thus far, emphasizing the necessity of the relationship between the two intertwined organisations. 

The APN Chairman briefed the Vice President of the Republic on some key activities undertaken within the APN calendar such as the Africa Globalized Investment Forum and State of AfCFTA Trading. 

The Executive Director stated the intentions of APN to invite the Vice President to the next Africa Globalized Investment Forum in Seychelles in 2023.

The Vice President acknowledged the African Continental Free Trade Area as the largest Free Trade Area in the world with over $2 billion dollars in trading goods expected to be generated each year. Africa has no excuse than to make it work.

He stated that "the advocacy of APN is critical to actualizing the goals of AfCFTA".

The Vice President expressed his sincere gladness to know that the role of women and youth is at the forefront of the APN agenda, citing that women and youth remain the key to Africa's future given our population potential.

He highlighted the launch of Pan African Payment Settlement Systems (PAPSS) earlier in 2022 to help facilitate the challenges faced in cross border payments across the continent and the diaspora.

Furthermore, the Vice President emphasized that the quickest way for Africa to be transformed is through the development of technology, focusing particularly on digitization initiatives that are needed all across the continent.

His Excellency commended the government on the successful implementation of the ECOWAS Biometric ID Card which has become a prerequisite for most systems operations in Ghana. 

Furthermore, he cited Ghana as one of only four states worldwide to have successfully implemented this nationwide initiative. This initiative as well as the technological advancement made within the past years has had a tremendous effect on bank account ownership which has risen from 30% to 90%.

Also, the digital property address initiative has brought about vast new opportunities and accessibilities to business in Ghana. It opened up the e-Commerce sector and the formal economy.

His Excellency Dr. Bawumia stated emphatically that with the One District One Factory promise, Ghana now has at least one factory in each district with as many as five in some. He added that 70% of factories are in the Agro processing sector.

He further added that Ghana now possesses the world's largest medical drone delivery system which is pivotal to such exercises as conveying blood to centers where needed. He emphasized that every flight potentially saves a life.

Source: APN TradeNews