The Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority and joined by the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA have organized the second phase of training for 50 officers of the Ghana Customs on trade facilitation. The seminar took place at the Koforidua Training Centre on 24th February 2024 and was attended by Point-of-Entry officers of the Ghana Customs and officials of JICA, AfCFTA and the GRA.
JICA is the official arm of the Japanese government responsible for implementing development assistance programmes and projects in developing countries, among other duties. Since 1977, JICA has been supporting Ghana in her efforts to achieve various developmental goals.
While delivering her opening remarks, the Chief Representative of JICA in Ghana, Ms. Suzuki Momoko, was happy to say: “This is the second year JICA is collaborating with GRA to implement the trade facilitation course. Last year, to support Ghana Customs in its quest to strengthen their capacity implementing various free trade agreements, the “Seminar on Trade Facilitation (Phase 1)” was successfully co-organized by the Customs Division of GRA and JICA for participants from eight borders under the Customs Division.”
She mentioned that: “This year’s seminar, we are providing an opportunity for about 50 participants from another eight borders to strengthen their knowledge on the various free trade agreements and their implementation, as well as on emerging topics such as Cross Border Women Traders and One Stop Border Posts. JICA has been supporting African countries to lower the barriers and facilitate trade so that African countries can truly benefit from open trade.”
A representative of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) delivered a lecture on the tenets of AfCFTA and how beneficial, trade facilitation is, to the African economy. The AfCFTA, if realized, will be the world's largest free trade area with a population of 1.3 billion and a GDP of $3.4 trillion, and will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the global economy. The World Bank estimates that a fully functioning AfCFTA could boost Africa's total exports by 29% and intra-regional trade by 81% by 2035, and increase real incomes by 7%, or about $450 billion, lifting many people out of poverty.
JICA has developed a document called the One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and has helped with the operationalization in Kazungula, between the border of Botswana and Zambia, which is considered to be one of the most advanced facilities in the continent. This is an example of JICA’s assistance in trade facilitation and it symbolizes the strong friendship between Japan and Africa.
Participants at the Trade Facilitation seminar were introduced to the OSBP Source book,which was created by JICA together with Regional Economic Communities such as AU and ECOWAS as a compilation of the knowledge relating to trade facilitation in Africa.
Ms. Momoko concluded: “JICA has provided various assistance to Africa to strengthen connectivity and facilitate trade. The introduction of One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) at borders and the modernization of Customs operations are examples of such assistance. We have also supported corridor developments such as the West Africa Growth Ring, connecting Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso. Projects such as the recently completed Tema Motorway Roundabout Improvement and the Improvement of N8 are among other JapaneseGrant Aid projects in Ghana, contributing to improvement of international corridors while enhancing intra-Africa trade.”
JICA in collaboration with World Customs Organization is providing Master trainers programfor participants across the world. Two of the lecturers at the seminar in Koforidua, Mr. Aziz Saaka and Mr. Godfred Dzisaah have completed a Training Program implemented jointly by JICA and WCO recently.
In December 2022, JICA signed a memorandum of cooperation with the AfCFTA Secretariat to strengthen collaboration and improve trading environments that facilitate the implementation of AfCFTA, including trade agreements that provide major opportunities for African countries. The seminar is part of the efforts targeted at implementing the cooperation.
