Photo: AfCFTA headquarters building in Accra, Ghana with Ms Quaye on insert.
Focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in the 13th edition of the celebration of African Border Day under the theme ‘Accelerating the Implementation of AfCFTA’ is one of the greatest calls all African countries must respond to facilitate development in African countries.
African Border Day is celebrated annually on 7th June to popularize the importance of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) in promoting peace, regional and continental integration in Africa. Its inaugural event was held in 2011 under following theme “uniting and integrating Africa through peaceful, open and prosperous borders”.
The peaceful co-existence of African countries over the years makes it worthy to always commemorate the border day. Since its inception, the celebration has rekindled the need for African countries to always realize the need to cooperate and share common ideas that will make the continent lucrative to pull others for investment.
African leaders must indeed be applauded for the initiation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is not only serving as a bridge for bringing unity among Africans but creating job opportunities for members as well.
AfCFTA indeed has ensured rapid, safe, and expeditious processing of the flow of people, goods, and vehicles at border crossing points.
The African Border Day celebration also forms part of the vision of the founding fathers of the African Union which seeks to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its Member States and achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples of Africa.
The target of protecting borders in Africa must be in the interest of all countries on the continent. Africans are really proud of themselves and appreciate their own for their hard work and progress.
The vibrant role of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) in promoting economic cooperation among member states in order to raise living standards and promote economic development liaises with the role of the African Union, African Border Day and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
With the common vision of protecting borders in Africa, all African leaders must be involved and contribute effectively towards the success of AfCFTA which is one of the salient ways by which genuine peace can reign on the African continent.
May African countries always enjoy peaceful cooperation in all activities aimed at bringing development to Africa.
Written by Grace Tsotsoo Quaye.
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
