Namibia and Ghana urged to deepen trade and cooperation

Stronger economic cooperation, African unity and the promotion of intra-continental trade dominated discussions at celebrations marking Ghana’s 69th independence anniversary in Windhoek on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, Namibia’s minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, who previously served as Namibia’s high commissioner to Ghana, praised Ghana’s democratic achievements and called for closer collaboration between African countries to unlock the continent’s economic potential.

“Ghana itself is a beacon of democratic governance on our continent. The country’s political maturity, stability and its consistent record of peaceful transfer of power remain a source of inspiration for many nations,” she said.

According to Ashipala-Musavyi, the appointment of Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the country’s first woman vice president is commendable.

“This achievement sends a powerful message across Africa that inclusive governance strengthens our democracies and enriches our societies,” she said.

The minister further highlighted the importance of expanding economic cooperation through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as one of the most transformative initiatives in Africa’s modern history.

“By bringing together the markets of our continent, it seeks to remove barriers to trade and render the artificial boundaries imposed during the colonial era increasingly irrelevant,” she said.

She also stressed the importance of investing in Africa’s youth and empowering them with the skills needed to drive the continent’s development in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Ghana’s high commissioner to Namibia, Abdul-Rahman Attah, said Ghana’s independence, achieved in 1957, remains closely linked to the broader liberation of the African continent.

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule.

Attah urged African governments to do more to ensure that initiatives such as the AfCFTA become meaningful for ordinary citizens, noting that many people across the continent remain unaware of the opportunities presented by the agreement.

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