Accra, Ghana, 28 March 2025 – H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, received the Honourable Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa. The Minister was accompanied by H.E. Thando Dalamba, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana.

The meeting centred on the role of tourism as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, with particular emphasis on the potential of the AfCFTA to enable increased intra-African travel, trade and job creation. Minister de Lille underscored the importance of advancing the African Union’s tourism agenda and called for the swift finalisation of the continental tourism regulatory framework. She further highlighted the urgency of implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to unlock opportunities across the sector.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to facilitating trade-related services, including tourism, as part of the broader objective of creating a single African market.