Business leaders and trade finance players are gathering today for a high-level discussion on how Ghanaian businesses can unlock opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as the country seeks to strengthen its position within Africa’s emerging single market.
The roundtable, organised as part of the 2026 Citi Business Festival by Citi FM and Channel One TV, will be held under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Single Market: How Ghanaian Businesses Can Win Under AfCFTA.”
The session will examine practical strategies for helping local firms expand across the continent, improve competitiveness, access financing and navigate evolving trade regulations.
It comes at a time when businesses are increasingly looking beyond Ghana’s borders for growth opportunities amid intensifying regional trade integration.
As Africa’s flagship trade pact, the AfCFTA aims to create the world’s largest free trade area by connecting more than 1.4 billion people across the continent.
The discussion is expected to assess Ghana’s readiness to take advantage of the agreement while addressing key challenges facing exporters, manufacturers and SMEs seeking to access new markets.
The panel will feature key industry leaders and policy experts, including Gabriel Opoku-Asare, Chief Export Development Officer at the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat; Benjamin Asiam, Acting Head of the National AfCFTA Coordination Office; Mark Badu-Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The rest are Dr Fareed Arthur, Senior Technical Advisor on AfCFTA implementation committees; and Emmanuel Mensah, Head of Trade and Working Capital at Absa Bank Ghana Ltd.
Speaking ahead of the event, Bernard Avle, General Manager of Citi FM and Channel One TV said the objective is to move businesses beyond awareness of the AfCFTA and towards practical action.
“We want to unpack what AfCFTA means for Ghanaian businesses, the opportunities it presents, the challenges exporters and SMEs face, and how we can position local companies to access Africa’s 54-country market,” he said.
The roundtable will be broadcast live on Channel One TV and forms part of the broader Citi Business Festival programme aimed at equipping businesses with the knowledge, networks and tools needed to drive growth and innovation.
“This conversation is about moving from awareness to action and helping businesses understand what it takes to compete and succeed in Africa’s single market,” he added.
The Citi Business Festival 2026 is powered by 97.3 Citi FM and Channel One TV in partnership with ABSA Bank. And it’s proudly sponsored by ABSA Bank, MTN, Zonda Tec Ghana Ltd. and Petra Trust.
