President John Dramani MahamaPresident John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to advocate for the inclusion of Caribbean countries in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when he assumes the chairmanship of the African Union (AU). “With regards to trade, we don't kid ourselves that you snap your finger and suddenly our trade volumes will go up. But the second is to expand the trade area,” he said. “And that's why I said as chair of the AU, I'm going to push for the inclusion of the Caribbean into the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he stated. President Mahama said the partnership between Africa and the Caribbean represents an opportunity to deepen South-South cooperation and advance shared economic interests.