Background Information

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

Media Advisory Date: 17th August, 2020

Venue: Ghana, Accra

WHAT: The Official hand over and Commissioning of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Building

WHEN: Monday,17th August, 2020

TIME: 1400h East African Time

WHERE: Register here: https://bit.ly/30Y8aja

WHO: The Africa Union Commission, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat hosted by the Republic of Ghana,

H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-, President of Ghana,

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Chairperson,

H.E Wamkele Mene, The first Secretary General of the AfCFTA

H.E. Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana,

H.E Shirley Ayorkor Botchway (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana

Background Information

The African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government during their 33rd Ordinary Session held from 09 - 10 February 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. H.E Wamkele Mene, from South Africa, was selected as the first Secretary General (SG) and was sworn-in on 19 March 2020, for a four-year mandate. The AfCFTA Secretariat is in based in Accra, Ghana.

The Secretary General is expected to provide leadership and technical support to AfCFTA Secretariat and overall management of the day-to-day management of the AfCFTA Secretariat, implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and strategic collaboration; stakeholders’ engagement; and resources mobilization for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement.

African Union Headquarters P.O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 77 00 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 78 44

The Agenda 2063 flagship initiative the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) refers to a continental geographic zone where goods and services move among member states of the AU with no restrictions. The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by providing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial trade agreement among the member states, covering trade in goods, services, investment, intellectual property rights and competition policy. Other continental frameworks include Boosting Intra African Trade (BIAT) which aims to deepen Africa’s market integration and significantly increasing the volume of trade that African countries undertake amongst themselves from the current levels of about 10-13% to 25% or more within the next decade and The Action Plan for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA), which aims to mobilize both financial and nonfinancial resources and enhance Africa’s industrial performance.

For further information please contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou Head of Information Division, Tel: 0911361185; Email: [email protected] ; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission

Media Contact: Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Communications Officer-Agenda 2063 | African Union Commission | E-mail: [email protected]|

African Union Headquarters P.O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 77 00 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 78 44