Women International Shipping and Trade Association (WISTA) is urging women into trade and services in the maritime sector to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).
This, according to WISTA-Ghana, can only be realised if they take time to peruse the AfCFTA document and abreast themselves of its mode of operation, explore the golden avenues therein and consolidate their trading activities.
This was raised at a one-day education forum organised by WISTA-Ghana in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ghana Trade Investment (GTI) and AfCFTA secretariat. The forum aims to build the capacity of members and women desirous to operate in the blue economy space in the operations of AfCFTA.
The forum was part of activities to mark Women in Maritime Day, which fell on May 18, 2023 and was held at IMO headquarters in London.
The event was patronised by WISTA members, naval personnel, representatives from the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as allied agencies in the maritime industry, and was an eye-opener for many participants who have only heard of AfCFTA but do not know its main focus. Through the programme, they have gained fair idea of processes and what opportunities AfCFTA holds for them.
President of Ghana branch of WISTA, Jamilat Jawula Mahama, said players in the maritime and trade industry must acquaint themselves with rules, processes and digital platforms which support AfCFTA, adding that knowing rudimental processes in the sub-sector is crucial in the quest to attain Sustainable Development Goals, goal five).
She hinted that WISTA-Ghana will soon conduct a survey to find out the number of women seafarers both past and present, onshore and offshore, as well as women in the trading industry to enable the organisation increase its project diversity and inclusion and seek the cooperation of players when the time is right.
Madam Jawula Mahama used the occasion to entreat participants to visit IMO-WISTA Speakers Bureau online to register as candidates for international speaking opportunities.
A captain of the merchant navy, Captain Catherine Haizel – who disclosed that she was virtually unaware of its operations though she has heard of AfCFTA, suggested that education on the continental trade organisation be taken to second circle and tertiary institutions for prospective young entrepreneurs to be well-informed on it even before they are out of school.
Captain Haizel also asked that mechanisms be put in place to prevent persistent capital flight as a result of foreigners repatriating almost all their profits – a contributor to the cedi’s abysmal performance.
A representative from the Ghana Shippers Authority and International Trade Committee member of WISTA International, Rhodalyn Djanitey, lauded the AfCFTA initiative which, according to her, will step up women’s involvement in the industry and increase their trading capital.
She urged participants and women in general to embrace the novelty to boost trade among African countries, which is at an abysmal level of 15 percent compared to 68 percent in Europe.
WISTA-Ghana is an international organisation with focus on championing the course of women in trade and services in the maritime industry through knowledge-acquisition for enhanced trading. It is currently present in 56 countries with about 4,000 members globally.
