Namibia’s first President, Dr Sam Nujoma, has made a strong case that African government and business leaders need to push forward a vibrant regional integration to promote trade and investment on the continent.
“There is great need for linkages and facilitation of trade as well the formalisation of our trade relations.”
Dr. Nujoma called for the scrapping of visa requirements in order to expand and ensure smooth trade among countries.
He proposed that all member-states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should scrap visa requirements between their respective countries, if trade development is to take place.
“The red-tape that accompanies the processing of visa applications has been one of the main obstacles to exploiting Africa’s untapped business potential.”
The two countries are eager to trade in different areas, but one of the hiccups businesses have encountered has been the long time it takes to process visas in both countries. Dr. Nujoma made this statement during a meeting between the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) and the Ghanaian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) in Accra.
The meeting forms part of a four-day official visit to Ghana in connection with the first anniversary of Air Namibia’s operations in the country.
He was accompanied by business executives and government officials as well as private sector operators interested in establishing joint ventures with Ghanaian counterparts.
“We have brought Namibian men, women and products so that they can form joint ventures with the main objective of exchanging and increasing intra-African trade that will build the continent as the forefathers always wanted to see,” Dr. Nujoma stated.
Dr. Nujoma encouraged the two countries to embark on joint scientific research efforts in order to exploit the continent’s vast, untapped resources.
”We should educate our children and produce our own scientists and marine biologists,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of NCCI, Tarah Shaanika, acknowledged the potential for higher levels of trade between the two nations and further stressed the need for both Namibian and Ghanaian businesses to interact, adding that trade between Namibia and Ghana is minimal.
He observed that there are low volumes in direct trade between the two countries, and that most of the trade takes place through South Africa.
Mr. Doni Kwame, Head of Marketing, Trade and Investment of GNCCI, making a presentation on investment opportunities in Ghana, said: “Commerce and trade is the mainstay of every country, representing its collective interest.
“Ghanaian businessmen are ready to partner with the Namibian business investors to boost trade and investment among the two countries.
“There is no significant trade taking place between Ghana and Namibia, but the Chamber believes there are many areas of trade that can be exploited,” Mr. Kwame stressed.
Dr. Nujoma as part of the official visit also met President Professor. John Evans Atta Mills, visited the Princess Marie Louis Children’s Hospital, and laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum in Accra.
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