Expanding Africa’s trade frontiers
Friday, June 12, 2026 | 90 Views |
Partnerships: Coke-Hamilton (left) met with senior government officials recently, including Trade and Entrepreneurship minister, Tiroeaone Ntsima PIC: ITC
The continent is pushing ahead with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), an ambitious agreement designed to create a single market for over than 1.4 billion people and unlock new opportunities for businesses across the continent.
At the centre of efforts to turn that vision into reality is the International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the United Nations and World Trade Organisation dedicated to helping small businesses access international markets. The agency is led by Pamela Coke-Hamilton, a veteran trade expert who has spent decades working on trade policy, market access and private sector development.
More than P8.1 million has already been spent, yet there appears to be no lasting solution in sight. This is not simply a dispute between the DIS and a group of officers. It is a matter of public accountability. Every pula spent by government comes from taxpayers who expect public funds to be used wisely and responsibly, especially during economic hardships faced by many.The officers exercised their constitutional right to seek justice through...