Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called for deeper economic integration among nations, describing stronger regional and inter-regional partnerships as essential to achieving shared prosperity and sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote address at the 4th Marrakesh Parliamentary Economic Forum in Morocco, the Speaker stressed that countries could unlock significant economic opportunities through enhanced cooperation, trade and investment partnerships.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to promoting economic diplomacy and supporting policies that facilitate cross-border trade, investment flows and broader economic collaboration.
Mr Bagbin highlighted Ghana’s strategic role as a gateway to West Africa, pointing to the country’s political stability, improving transport infrastructure, modern port facilities and ongoing industrialisation drive as major advantages for attracting investment and expanding trade.
According to the Speaker, Ghana’s planned transition to a 24-hour economy is expected to further strengthen productivity, improve trade facilitation and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global marketplace.
He emphasised that economic integration should not be limited to the movement of goods and services but must also include the free movement of people across borders.
“The integration of economies must go hand in hand with the integration of people,” he noted, arguing that greater mobility would help unlock the full benefits of regional and international cooperation.
Mr Bagbin also commended Morocco, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, the Parliamentary Network of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as other development partners, for their efforts in promoting economic collaboration among countries in Africa, Europe and the Gulf States.
He further urged governments and policymakers to uphold transparency, accountability and sound economic management, stressing that these principles are critical to fostering investor confidence and achieving long-term economic growth.
The Marrakesh Parliamentary Economic Forum serves as a platform for lawmakers, policymakers and development partners to discuss strategies for advancing economic cooperation, strengthening trade relations and addressing shared development challenges across regions.
The Speaker’s remarks underscored Ghana’s continued commitment to regional integration and its broader vision of leveraging international partnerships to drive economic transformation and prosperity.
