As the General Secretary of the Ghana Union of Traders Association and the representative of Yesudem Company Limited I imported batteries from Kenya under the AfCFTA framework. When the goods arrived in Ghana I was told that the goods could not get AfCFTA preferences because they were not liberalised under the ECOWAS offer. The goods were therefore held and accrued demurrage and penalties. The initial duty I was supposed to pay was 84 000 GHS but I ended up having to pay an additional amount of 266 000 GHS that I am still paying to this day.
This situation affected my business very negatively.

Subsequent consignments also incurred duties and the batteries are still not liberalised under AfCFTA. When will the batteries be liberalised? I thought the objective of the AfCFTA was to increase trade among African countries.