The high cost of air travel within Africa is likely to affect the smooth delivery of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative, Daen of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, Professor Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has said.
Prof Abotsi described air travel within Africa as ‘senselessly’ expensive. He attributed the high cost of air travel to protectionism, taxes and fuel costs.
In his view, without a free airspace and landing across the continent, the success of the AfCFTA will be a mirage.
“Air travel is senselessly expensive and difficult in Africa. And apparently, protectionism, taxes & fuel costs is driving that.
“The AfCFTA would be a mirage without a free airspace and landing across the continent,” Prof Abosti wrote on his X platform.
Air travel is senselessly expensive and difficult in Africa. And apparently protectionism, taxes & fuel cost is driving that. The AfCFTA would be mirage without a free airspace and landing across the continent.
— Prof. E. Kofi Abotsi (@ProfAbotsi) March 7, 2024
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade area encompassing most of Africa.
It was established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which has 43 parties and another 11 signatories, making it the largest free-trade area by number of member states, after the World Trade Organization, and the largest in population and geographic size, spanning 1.3 billion people across the world’s second largest continent.
The AfCFTA private sector database platform is now available on our website! Please visit: https://t.co/xZn8z2RudM or scan the below QR to register! Unlock new opportunities across the continent! #AfCFTA #privatesector pic.twitter.com/ph6rjyHw0z
— AfCFTA Secretariat Official (@AfCFTA) March 4, 2024
The AfCFTA’s negotiations and implementation are overseen by a permanent secretariat based in Accra.