Ghana: President John Dramani Mahama has stated that he will push for Caribbean nations to join the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when he will take the African Union chair. The proposal would allow duty-free trade in goods between Africa and the Caribbean.
AfCFTA already connects African countries through a single market of about 1.4 billion people. Ghana hosts the AfCFTA secretariat, while Caribbean countries have special status in African Union discussions.
According to Ghana’s President, expanding the AfCFTA framework to accommodate Caribbean countries would create greater opportunities for trade, investment and economic cooperation while building on the historical and cultural links shared between the two regions.
President Mahama has made the remarks during a joint press conference with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness as part of his official state visit to Jamaica.
Considering the prospects for increased trade between Africa and the Caribbean, President Mahama acknowledged that boosting commercial exchanges would require deliberate planning and sustained investment rather than expecting immediate results.
President Mahama further stated that with regards to trade, they don’t kid themselves that you snap your fingers and suddenly the trade volumes will go up.
“We need to work at it. And that is why I said one way of working at it is to put in the infrastructure and the logistics. But the second is to expand the trade area,” said Ghana President. He added, “And that is why I said as chair of the AU, I am going to push for the inclusion of the Caribbean into the African Continental Free Trade Area.”
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana further explained that he meant, there are so many pharmaceutical products. And so, once they go in there and decide to trade, they should go on the platform. It will get you in touch with the producer in whichever country.
Ghana 🇬🇭 President John Dramani Mahama has stated he will push for Caribbean nations to join the African Continental Free Trade Area when he takes the African Union chair.
The proposal would allow duty-free trade in goods between Africa and the Caribbean. AfCFTA already… pic.twitter.com/T0yLiVsipm
— Africa View Facts (@AfricaViewFacts) August 6, 2026
President of Jamaica Andrew Holness noted that the state visit should not be viewed as merely symbolic. It stressed upon both governments and are seeking practical outcomes capable of generating jobs, investment and long-term economic growth.
Holness stated that they have focused primarily on this from a tourism perspective, trade and services. Heavily and specially on North American and European markets of late South American markets.
Now they have to turn the attention to the African continent where there is a growing middle class who wants to travel, who wants to experience the world and who could be right at home and comfortable right here in Jamaica. So, they see these visits as not just courtesies; these visits are important to set the foundation for the trade in goods and services that will come.
Beyond the aviation, both leaders outlined plans to strengthen logistics and maritime cooperation. They view their countries as strategic gateways to their respective regions.
Holness further pointed to Jamaica’s continued investment in expanding the Port of Kingston, while they also noted that Ghana is pursuing similar ambitions in West Africa. He mentioned that connecting the two logistics hubs could create more efficient trade routes for exporters and investors.