Accra, September, 2026
The Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) held a meeting with the AfCFTA National Coordinating Office (NCO) on Thursday, 4th September 2026, at the GFZA Head Office in Accra, to discuss challenges confronting Free Zones Enterprises in accessing and benefiting from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as explore opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of GFZA, Dr. Mary Awusi, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the mandate of the Authority in promoting and facilitating export-oriented investments in Ghana. She noted that although GFZA has over 300 licensed Free Zones Enterprises, only 32 companies are currently registered under the AfCFTA, underscoring the need to address the challenges limiting greater participation and enable more enterprises to access the benefits of the continental market.
The leader of the delegation and newly appointed National Coordinator of the AfCFTA NCO, Mr. Dodi Seidu, expressed appreciation to GFZA for its efforts and acknowledged the challenges raised during the meeting. He called for strengthened collaboration between the two institutions to address the concerns of Free Zones Enterprises and enhance their participation in intra-African trade.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both institutions to deliberate on the challenges faced by Free Zones Enterprises in registering and operating under the AfCFTA framework. Both sides agreed on the need for collaborative efforts to identify practical solutions to these challenges and facilitate greater participation of Free Zones Enterprises in the AfCFTA market.
Also present were the Deputy CEO for Finance and Administration, Mr. Hamidu Sibiri Musah; Deputy CEO for Operations, Mr. Lateef Apau Wiredu; Director, Business Development and Research, Mr. Lawrence Osei-Boateng; Director, Agribusiness, Dr. Abdul-Wahab Alhassan; Director, Administration, Hajia Hanatu Abubakar; Head of AfCFTA and Strategic Partnerships, Mr. Kingsford Jagre; Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Bilal Muazu; and other officers of the Authority.