Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare utilized her meeting with Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in Geneva to specifically request partnership in two critical areas: combating illicit financial flows (IFFs) and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into trade policy. The request was made on the sidelines of the 16th session of the UNCTAD conference (UNCTAD XVI).
Highlighting her role on the Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Minister underscored President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to strengthening surveillance and compliance at Ghana’s ports as a key part of national efforts to crack down on IFFs. To this end, she requested UNCTAD’s technical support for capacity-building initiatives designed to enhance customs efficiency and significantly improve trade data integrity.
Furthermore, the Minister sought UNCTAD’s assistance in integrating AI perspectives into Ghana’s trade policy analysis and implementation framework, signaling a commitment to modernizing the nation’s approach to trade.
The Secretary-General, Ms. Grynspan, expressed strong support for these proposals, immediately inviting Ghana to work closely with Mr. Paul Akiwumi, UNCTAD’s Director for Africa, on targeted interventions focusing on IFFs and trade facilitation. Mr. Akiwumi subsequently briefed the Minister on UNCTAD’s forthcoming initiatives, including plans for enhanced engagement with ECOWAS Parliamentarians on trade-related reforms and continued support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through regional groupings.
The meeting concluded with Ghana reaffirming its readiness to collaborate with UNCTAD to ensure that trade, investment, and innovation continue to serve as powerful engines for inclusive and sustainable transformation.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
