H.E. Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission accompanied by Ms. Mariama Cisse Mohamed, Director for International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Special Liaison Office to the AUC and UNECA, paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat during a high-level political advocacy mission to the Republic of Ghana geared towards fast tracking AU Member States ratification, domestication and implementation of the AU Protocol on Free movement of Persons (FMP), Right of Residence and Right of Establishment in Africa.

During the meeting H.E. Commissioner Minata Samate Cessouma and H.E Wamkele Mene emphasised the importance of advancing both the Protocol on FMP and the AfCFTA Agreement as key regional integration instruments that are pivotal for harnessing the symbiotic benefits of their effective implementation toward the full realisation of the Agenda 2063, ‘the Africa We Want’. The two principals also agreed to undertake a series of joint activities under the 2023 AU theme of the year “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.

H.E. Commissioner SAMATE further underscored that the AfCFTA is necessary and timely for medication and healthcare technological equipment to circulate and for the movement of health professionals.

H.E. Commissioner Samate Cessouma and her host, H.E.  Mene agreed on the following key outcomes as areas of common interest to work together:

• To expand partnerships with African financial institutions, towards supporting an advocacy campaign on the FMP protocol and the implementation of the AfCFTA.
• Develop an advocacy strategy for the signature, ratification and the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.
• Work together to facilitate the movement of health workers and business people for the benefit of the continent.
• Planning and implementing joint activities, missions, and strategic engagements in line with advancing the Protocol on FMP and AfCFTA Agreement.
• Leverage the support of partners for building the capacities of immigration officials and frontline workers including identity management and integrated border governance.
• Involving Heads of States, Goodwill Ambassadors, Special Envoys and Digital Diplomats for the promotion and ratification of the Protocol on FMP.
• With partners, jointly convene a side event on FMP for trade on the margins of the African Games 2024 to be hosted by the Republic of Ghana.
• Explore ways and means of facilitating the free movement of medication and healthcare workers within the framework of the African Medicines Agency.

For further information, please contact:

Emily Mburu Ndoria | Director Trade in Services, Intellectual Property Rights, Investment and Digital Trade |AfCFTA Secretariat  | Email: Emily.Ndoria@au-afcfta.org

Dr. Femi Olamuyiwa | Free Movement Protocol Officer | Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission | Email: OlamuyiwaO@africa-union.org

King David Cartey| Strategic Communication Expert| Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development |African Union Commission | Email: CarteyD@africa-union.org

Grace Khoza |Principal Communications Advisor | AfCFTA Secretariat| Email: Grace.khoza@au-afcfta.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org

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Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube