President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to champion the expansion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to include Caribbean nations when Ghana assumes the chairmanship of the African Union (AU) next year, describing the move as a major step towards strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
Speaking at a joint media briefing with Jamaican Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston on Monday, August 3, 2026, Mr Mahama said the proposed expansion would allow businesses in Africa and the Caribbean to trade goods on a duty-free and tariff-free basis, creating new opportunities for investment and economic cooperation.
“One of the things that I would champion when I become AU chair next year is to expand the remit of the African Continental Free Trade Area to include the Caribbean,” the President stated during his four-day state visit to Jamaica.
Mr Mahama explained that AfCFTA currently enables African countries to trade among themselves without paying import duties or tariffs, creating a single market of approximately 1.4 billion people with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of nearly US$3 trillion.
According to him, extending the agreement to Caribbean countries would significantly enhance commercial relations across the Atlantic and open new markets for businesses in both regions.
He noted that the AfCFTA operates through a harmonised standards framework under which national standards authorities certify products that meet agreed requirements. Once approved, the products are entered into a shared register accessible to manufacturers, exporters and buyers across the free trade area.
The President cited electrical cables, transformers, iron and steel products, processed foods and pharmaceuticals among the goods that already qualify for duty-free trade under the continental agreement.
Mr Mahama also disclosed that Africa was developing a continent-wide payment platform that would enable member states to settle trade transactions using their local currencies instead of relying on third-party currencies.
He said the payment system, once operational, would simplify cross-border transactions, reduce the cost of doing business and further promote intra-African trade.
Despite the opportunities presented by the proposed expansion, the President acknowledged that increasing trade volumes between Africa and the Caribbean would require deliberate policy measures and sustained investment.
“We don’t kid ourselves that you snap your finger and suddenly trade volumes will go up. We need to work at it,” he said.
He stressed that improving transport connectivity and strengthening infrastructure between Africa and the Caribbean would be essential to unlocking the full benefits of extending AfCFTA to Caribbean nations.
Mr Mahama’s proposal forms part of broader efforts to deepen economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean, building on longstanding historical and cultural ties while seeking to create a larger market for businesses across both regions.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah