PAP members urged to ratify AfCFTA
Members of the Pan- African Parliament ( PAP) whose countries have not yet ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA) Agreement have been urged to do so urgently.
The countries have been told to push for ratification so that their citizens can enjoy the benefits of continental integration. During the just- ended first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament of PAP, Parliamentarians were urged to sensitise their respective countries to create national committees for AfCFTA within the Ministries on Trade so as to facilitate collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Private sector.
According to Mohamed Ali, Director, Trade in goods and competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, Parliamentarians should advocate for the signing and ratification of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment. Currently only four African countries have ratified this Protocol He explained that the role of the Pan- African Parliament on trade facilitation in Africa is defined under AU Agenda 2063.
Aspiration One of AU Agenda 2063: aims at prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. Under this aspiration, the Pan African Parliament has the role to: Promote intra- African trade as a conduit for growth; Promote policies that will increase working capital, trade finance and insurance access to firms, businesses and Small, Medium and Micro- sized Enterprises ( SMMEs) among others.
Aspiration Two of AU Agenda 2063: aims at an integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and vision of Africa’s Renaissance. Under this aspiration the PAP has the role to; Promote the ratification and adoption of treaties and protocols related to the creation of regional and continental Free Trade Areas, Customs Union, Common Market; and Support development of regional frameworks that enhances access at points of entry to Women involved in cross- border trade.
In view of the importance of the AfCFTA and the benefits it brings to the people of Africa and beyond, the Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration matters resolved to bring the matter to the attention of all members of the PAP through the first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament. The Pan African Parliament has been advocating and lobbying for the participation of African people in the negotiation of the AfCFTA and the Protocol on Free movement of people in Africa and the African passport. Consequently, recommendations have been adopted by PAP on the Free movement of people in Africa and the African passport, during its May 2017 Ordinary. The AU Extra Ordinary Summit in Kigali on 21st March 2018, adopted the Agreement establishing the AfCFTA and the adoption of the Protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment ‘ Protocol on Free Movement of Persons’. In March 2020, the PAP Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration matters and the Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology organised a Continental Workshop which recommended that: African states should accelerate regional economic growth and strengthen scientific research to fill the human resource gap; the need for the Pan- African Parliament to draw up a model law on the harmonization of tax and customs legislation in order to simplify the customs regime, make trade between States fluid and promote the expansion of African companies through the development of value chains; and Parliamentarians should raise awareness in their respective countries to set up online support platforms for approved economic operators.