President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to push for the inclusion of Caribbean countries in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when he assumes the chairmanship of the African Union (AU).
The proposed move, which forms part of President Mahama’s vision for deeper Africa-Caribbean cooperation, is expected to strengthen trade, investment and economic ties between the two regions while building on their shared historical and cultural connections.
President Mahama announced during a joint press conference with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Jamaica, where he is on an official state visit.
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AfCFTA expansion plan
Speaking about efforts to increase trade between Africa and the Caribbean, President Mahama said greater commercial exchanges would not happen overnight and would require deliberate planning, investment and the development of the necessary infrastructure.
He said expanding the trade area to include Caribbean nations would be one of the strategic measures needed to deepen economic relations between Africa and the Caribbean.
“With regards to trade, we don’t kid ourselves that you snap your fingers and suddenly our trade volumes will go up. We need to work at it,” President Mahama said.
He explained that improving trade would require investment in infrastructure and logistics, as well as an expansion of the existing trade framework.
“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,” he added.
President Mahama also explained how the African Continental Free Trade Area works, highlighting the importance of harmonised product standards in facilitating trade across participating countries.
According to him, businesses that meet the required standards can have their products approved and placed on a register, allowing them to access markets across the participating countries more easily.
He said products that could benefit from the system include electrical cables, transformers, iron and steel products, processed foods and pharmaceutical products.
“The way the African Continental Free Trade Area works is that we harmonise our standards. And once you get approval from your standards authority that your product is of the standard that you can export, then they put you on a register,” President Mahama explained.
He added that businesses can use the AfCFTA platform to identify products that qualify for trade and connect with producers in other participating countries.
Africa-Caribbean trade opportunities
The proposed Caribbean inclusion in AfCFTA could create new opportunities for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, potentially expanding access to markets and encouraging greater investment.
President Mahama’s proposal also reflects growing efforts to strengthen economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, building on the longstanding historical, cultural and people-to-people connections shared by the two regions.
If pursued, the initiative could provide a broader platform for African and Caribbean businesses to explore new markets, develop supply chains and increase trade in manufactured and processed goods.
The announcement comes as Ghana continues to promote stronger economic and diplomatic relations with Caribbean countries, with President Mahama positioning Africa-Caribbean cooperation as an important part of his broader international agenda.
President Mahama’s plan to champion Caribbean inclusion in AfCFTA as AU Chair could mark a significant step towards deepening economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean.
By combining improved infrastructure and logistics with expanded trade arrangements and harmonised standards, the initiative could help unlock new opportunities for businesses, investors and exporters across both regions.