The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has called for urgent collaboration among the country’s trade bodies, warning that fragmentation undermines their collective power to shape business-friendly policies.
Executive Secretary Sampson Asaki Awingobit delivered the appeal during the association’s 11th-anniversary event at the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra on Wednesday, stressing that rivalries between associations must end.
“Trade groups cannot afford to see each other as competitors,” Awingobit declared before public and private sector stakeholders.
“A unified front amplifies our advocacy and drives policies that actually support Ghanaian businesses.” He announced plans to expand the association’s digital tools, including a real-time compliance desk on its website, to keep members updated on trade regulations.
The push for synergy comes as Ghana positions itself within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Awingobit argued that coordinated action is essential to unlock the agreement’s full potential, noting that disjointed efforts leave businesses vulnerable to shifting regulations. Attendees echoed his concerns, acknowledging that infighting weakens their negotiating power with policymakers.
With economic headwinds persisting, the association’s message resonates: unity isn’t optional. As one stakeholder put it, “When trade groups speak with one voice, ministries listen.”
