ADDSIA ABABA, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and Ghana on Thursday deposited documents with the African Union (AU) of ratification toward establishing African continental free trade area (AfCTFA).
AfTCFA is seen as vital for Africa's economic development and its integration, facilitating free movement of people, goods, and services within the continent.
In March, 44 AU member states signed the AfCFTA during the AU extraordinary summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kenya and Ghana are the first two countries to ratify the AfCFTA by their parliaments, and deposit documents of ratification with the AU.
"By ratification, it means that the legal instruments that are signed by the heads of states are now part of domestic law," AU Commissioner for Trade and Industry Albert Muchanga told journalists after a ceremony at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.
The AU Commission hopes that in the coming nine to 12 months, the AfCTFA will be ratified by 22 member states, the minimum to enable it to come into force, Muchanga said.
Hailing the commitment of the two countries, the chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called on other AU member states to follow suit.
"I congratulate Kenya and Ghana for being the first AU member states to deposit their instruments of ratification with the AU Commission," Faki said at the ceremony.
A single purchase
