{
  "id": 19683855,
  "title": "Ghana proposes expanding AfCFTA to Caribbean to boost Africa-Caribbean trade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/ghana-proposes-expanding-afcfta-to-caribbean-to-boost-africa",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T17:09:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GBC Ghana",
    "slug": "gbc-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.gbcghanaonline.com/general/expanding-afcfta-to-caribbean-to-boost-africa-caribbean-trade/2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ghana has proposed extending the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to encompass Caribbean nations, aiming to bolster economic collaboration and deepen historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean. Proposed by President John Dramani Mahama, the initiative seeks to unlock economic potential, foster new business opportunities, and generate employment on both continents. The Foreign Affairs Minister of Ghana, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, highlighted the need for deliberate policies to overcome the historically low levels of trade between Africa and the Caribbean. Ablakwa emphasized that while Africa and the Caribbean share a common history, increasing trade between the two regions necessitates targeted policies. He also mentioned legal options for an African Union-CARICOM partnership to facilitate the expansion of the continental free trade arrangement. Ghana is actively exploring ways to revive Ghana Airways, with the goal of establishing direct air links between Africa and the Caribbean to facilitate the movement of people and goods. The lack of direct air connections currently hinders trade and people-to-people exchanges, as travelers often face transit visa requirements from countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and those in the Schengen Area. The proposed agreement also includes port cooperation between Ghana and Jamaica, aimed at addressing logistical challenges and improving trade routes. Ghanaian nurses working in Caribbean nations such as Jamaica, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda exemplify the importance of labor mobility in strengthening regional cooperation. President Mahama's state visit to Jamaica earlier this year saw the announcement of the proposal, with the intention of extending the benefits of the African single market beyond the continent. Ablakwa stressed the importance of translating historical relations into practical economic opportunities, referencing the UN resolution on the transatlantic slave trade as evidence of the two regions' potential to work together on shared issues.",
  "summary": "By Hannah Dadzie Ghana has proposed expanding the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to include Caribbean countries as part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation, increase trade and deepen historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the proposal, championed by President John Dramani Mahama, was […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}