By Moses Punyuah, Nairobi
African leaders have been urged to fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock its full economic potential and deliver tangible benefits to the continent’s 1.4 billion people.
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while chairing the inaugural Committee Meeting of Heads of State and Government on the Implementation of AfCFTA, President William Ruto said the time had come to move decisively from negotiations to action.
“The AfCFTA must now move from negotiation to implementation so that it can deliver real benefits to our people,” President Ruto said.
He noted that by integrating African markets, the trade pact lays a strong foundation for industrialisation, value addition, and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
President Ruto said AfCFTA has the potential to boost intra-African trade by up to $3 trillion and increase Africa’s cumulative GDP by about $1.4 trillion by 2045, but warned that the promise can only be realised through disciplined execution and sustained political leadership.
“This promise will only be achieved through focused implementation and consistent political commitment
,” he added.
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