Former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, has urged the government to consider amending laws that restrict foreign investments from participating in business activities reserved exclusively for local enterprises.
His call comes in light of Ghana hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the need to align national policies with the continent’s free trade objectives.
Speaking at the inaugural lecture of the MountCrest Law Students Union, Mr. Atta Akyea emphasized that Ghana’s trade laws should support, rather than hinder, the effective implementation of AfCFTA.
He noted that while protecting local businesses is crucial, the broader goal of regional integration and economic collaboration across Africa should take precedence.
“Continental free trade is not going to blossom if you have a municipal law which cancels the intent of the whole arrangement,so it calls for an amendment,” he said.
He added that: “You can’t talk about continental free trade and within the space of the free trade certain areas are no go areas then it ceases to be continental free trade. The parliament of Ghana will have to look at it so they amend the law and indeed we have a continental free trade. We can’t have any law of Ghana which is cancelling out the interment of continental free trade.”
