ICC to work with Ghana on WTO reforms and build capacity of businesses

The Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce Maria Fernandez Garza has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Trade & Industry, K.T. Hammond as part of her official visit to Ghana and to thank him for his support of the maiden ICC African Sustainable Supply Chain Summit in 2023.

She said the importance of hosting a regional supply chain event in Ghana cannot be overstated, especially in the context of fostering sustainable economic growth across Africa. At the heart of ICC’s mission lies the commitment to socially responsible business practices that not only benefit the planet and its people but also support business growth

The Summit concluded with several key points. The International Chamber of Commerce was commended for its role in bringing together key players, governments, and development partners to co-create sustainable solutions for African supply chains. The Summit acknowledged the work of the ICC Centres of Entrepreneurship – especially the centres in Nairobi, Lagos, Casablanca, and Accra which are driving the next generation of entrepreneurs through innovation and cross-border trade.

UNDP was also praised for its commitment to supporting platforms that advance sustainable structural transformation in Africa to achieve the SDGs. The summit emphasized collaboration with the UNCTAD to address African trade needs and commended the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation for simplifying and reducing the cost of trade in Africa.

Additionally, the summit recognised the significant constraints posed by high trade costs and non-tariff barriers, highlighting the importance of their reduction. It also applauded Ghana for its successful public-private partnership in creating an efficient and paperless port system and DHL for its sustainability programs and entrepreneurial training. Google’s initiatives, including the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa Program and the Black Founders Fund, were also praised.

The summit acknowledged the threats posed by disruptions to supply chains and the importance of establishing supply chain networks to enhance food security and agricultural trade in Africa. It identified challenges related to globalisation, e-commerce, trade restrictions, and compliance in African trade and stressed the need for resilience and integrated supply chain solutions. Public-private sector collaboration was encouraged to improve transportation, digital connectivity, and energy access. The summit concluded by highlighting the importance of implementing AfCFTA protocols, addressing barriers to local manufacturing, and promoting intra-Africa trade, especially in agriculture and manufacturing, to boost economic growth in the region. It also emphasised the need for productive capacity and short sea shipping networks to facilitate trade and underscored the importance of trade credit insurance, legal frameworks, and capital support.

Finally, the summit called for collaboration with global partners, alignment with SDGs, and professionalism to build a more resilient and sustainable economic system in Africa.

The Honourable Minister called on ICC to help build the productive capacity of the continent for global supply chains through investment promotion, capacity building programmes and training for businesses and enterprises.

On the issue of dispute resolution, he called on ICC to establish an arbitration hearing centre in Ghana to compliment the work of the AfCFTA Secrtetariat. For businesses, arbitration and mediation are crucial because they provide a faster, cheaper, and more flexible way to resolve disputes.

In a nutshell, arbitration and mediation are like problem-solving superheroes for businesses, helping them keep the peace and move forward smoothly. ICC International Court of Arbitration is arguably the leading arbitral institution in the world and guards its independence but will still make a case for a hearing centre in Africa she said.

The two also discussed the outcome of the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi and expectations of the 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon in 2026. The official proceedings from MC13 focused on agriculture, fisheries, dispute resolution, domestic services, and e-commerce, with mixed outcomes.

The business agenda, by contrast, was marked by an overwhelming consensus around the need to boost efforts to digitalise trade and trade finance, collaborate and drive inclusion in global trade.