TrustAfrica Organises Debate on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Creation of an African Area of Production, Trade and Culture
TrustAfrica has successfully organized a dinner-debate on the “African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) and the Creation of an African Area of Production, Trade and Culture”. The event was held on Saturday, 5 October 2019 at the Hotel Terrou-bi as part of the 28th meeting of TrustAfrica’s Board.
The debate was organised primarily to interrogate the advantages and implications of the Free Trade Area agreement established by the African Union and signed in Kigali, Rwanda on 21 March 2018 by 44 Heads of State and Government of the 55 African Union Member States.
The keynote speaker was HE Abdoulie Janneh, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and a member of the TrustAfrica Board. The moderation was anchored by the President of TrustAfrica, Mrs. Coumba Touré. Contributors included Professor Fatou Sow Sarr of IFAN, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dr. Tawanda Mutasah, Amnesty International and member of the TrustAfrica Board of Directors. and Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal.
The dinner-debate, which saw the participation of diplomats, academics, activists and members of civil society, provided a platform for participants to discuss and contribute to the conversation on AfCFTA as a vehicle for the promotion of intra-African trade and effective integration of the continent into the global economy.
The evening was also marked by the presence of eminent musicians like Baaba Maal and Mansour Seck who entertained the audience with beautiful presentations.
On behalf ot TrustAfrica, Vote of Thanks and Closing Remarks were made byProfessor Tade Aina, Executive Director of the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), and TrustAfrica Board Member
Programme:
Welcome and Introductions: Ebrima Sall, Executive Director of TrustAfrica
Main Speaker: H.E. Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Former Executive Secretary of the UNECA, Executive Director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, TA Board Member
Respondents:
– Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, IFAN, Cheikh Anta Diop University
– Dr. Tawanda Mutasah, Amnesty International, TrustAfrica Board
– H.E. Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, President, Pan African Institute of Strategic Studies, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal
Moderator: Ms. Coumba Touré, Chair of the TrustAfrica Board of Trustee
General Discussion
Vote of Thanks and Closing Remarks: Professor Tade Aina, Executive Director of the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), and TrustAfrica Board Member