The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference GITFiC, Mr. Selassi Koffi Ackom represented the Republic of Ghana at this year’s United Nations Economic Community for Africa’s (ECA) high level intergovernmental Committee Meeting in Rabat, Morocco as a special guest and a resource person recently.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) meeting took place November 19–21, 2024. The theme of the meeting was “Accelerating the Implementation of the AfCFTA in North and West Africa through Digital Transformation and Economic Diversification”
At the Committee meeting, Mr. Ackom also held bilateral meetings with Morocco’s senior government officials at their various ministries.
At Morocco’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Selassie Ackom discussed GITFiC’s AfCFTA implementation support programs where he officially introduced the GITFiC’ s AfCFTA Tertiary Students Club, the about-to-be-launched AfCFTA Curriculum for Africa’s Tertiary Schools and the need to increase trade between Ghana and Morocco. The Moroccan counterparts recommended the formation of a committee to immediately look into trade matters by identifying commodities of mutual interest and submit same for consideration under the Guided Trade Initiative of the AfCFTA. GITFiC has reported this to Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and the formation of a joint committee chaired by The GITFiC is currently underway.
On the economic aspect, there was a diplomatic meeting with Morocco’s Ministry of Economy and Finance where GITFiCs Global Debt Initiative in collaboration with
the United Nations and African Development Bank AfDB was discussed in earnest and The Kingdom of Morocco was invited to join the initiative and spearhead same. The Kingdom of Morocco was invited to host the second meeting in Rabat next year. An invitation which was met with gross interest and willingness from the Authorities in Morocco. It is important to note that discussions and modalities for this second ECA Committee meeting are underway, and have been communicated to the sector ministry in Ghana – the MOTI.
The sub-regional Offices for West and North Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) jointly organized the 39th and 27th sessions of the Intergovernmental Committees of Senior Officials and Experts for North Africa and West Africa (ICSOE) on 19-21 November in Rabat (Morocco).
This high-profile meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of the results achieved by the ECA Offices in North and West Africa over the past year, outline strategic priorities for the coming year, assess the economic and social conditions in both sub regions and make recommendations in support of member countries’ efforts to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2030 (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 while promoting deeper regional integration.
This year’s joint session was held under the theme: “Accelerating the Implementation of the AfCFTA in North and West Africa through Digital Transformation and Economic Diversification.” Parallel to this event, the offices held on 19-20 November an expert group meeting (EGM) on the same topic (hybrid format).
Participants at the ICSOE and EGM meetings included delegates and representatives from 22 countries of North and West Africa including high-level officials, policymakers, representatives of regional economic communities, academics, development partners, civil society, and the private sector.
Mr. Ackom, CEO of the GITFiC extended his courtesies and commendations to the Moroccan Delegation for their kind hospitality, participation and cooperation during the mission in Rabat.
