By Albert Allotey
Accra, March 12, GNA – A GITFiC-AfCFTA Curriculum bachelor’s course has been launched for tertiary students reading humanities, social sciences, and business in all AfCFTA-ratified member states.
The GITFIC-AfCFTA Curriculum is on the theme, “Impacting Knowledge, Accelerating Sensitization and Preparing Africa’s Youthful Generation for the AfCFTA Through Education.”
The course is a product of the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC) and is meant to be studied in all tertiary institutions, especially schools implementing the GITFiC-AfCFTA Tertiary Students Club.
It is aimed at educating, informing, and sensitising students and academia on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while providing comprehensive understanding of its establishment, implementation, operationalisation, and implications.
This would help influence their mindsets on AfCFTA, ready them to take advantage of several opportunities such as entrepreneurship, industrialisation (4th revolution), and most importantly, the GITFiC mantra “Produced in Africa and Consumed by Africans.”
Mr Bernard Ahiafor, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who chaired the occasion in a keynote address said the AfCFTA aimed at opening unprecedented opportunities to create an integrated market for goods and services.
It was also to facilitate free movement of people, capital, and investment and to enable cross-border trade than never while building sustainable and inclusive future for all Africans.
“It is about strengthening our economies, empowering our people and creating a continent that works together for the benefit of all its citizens,” Mr Ahiafor stated.
However, he said, to achieve the ambitious goals there should be a generation of well prepared, informed, and skilled leaders who understand the complexities for regional integration and international trade, adding, “This is where education comes into play.”
He said the launch of the GITFiC-AfCFTA for tertiary schools was a crucial step in preparing the current generation to meet the challenges, seize the opportunity that AfCFTA create by integrating principles of free trade, regional cooperation, and economic diplomacy to higher educational system.
“We are laying the foundation for future where our young people are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets needed in the global economy. The curriculum is more than just a series of lessons. It is a powerful tool for empowering African youth with the capacity to navigate the complexities,” he said.
Mr Ben Assiam, Director, Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade Division, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness in a speech commended GITFiC for further developing the AfCFTA Curriculum together with all the stakeholders, to champion the African integration in the tertiary institutions.
“It is noteworthy once again, that the curriculum designed, provides a comprehensive understanding of the establishment, implementation, operationalisation and implications of increased intra-African trade on the socio-economic well-being of the people of Africa,” he stated.
Mr Selasi Koffi Ackom, the CEO of GITFiC in a welcoming address said, “We are starting a journey today that will not only present the AfCFTA-Africa’s daring step towards continental integration but also act as a springboard for equipping the future generation with knowledge, abilities, and strategic insights needed to prosper in a quickly changing economic environment.”
He said, “Let us remember that education is the cornerstone of progress. It is through understanding, dialogue, and collective effort that we can transform challenges into opportunities and set a robust foundation for economic future of Africa.”
Mr Ackom expressed gratitude to all who dedicated countless hours to design the curriculum.
GNA
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