"We did not create the organization only for the will to create, but because we want to effectively change the current state of affairs in our continent, we want to see our countries interconnected, by the most different forms of communication, such as roads, highways, railways, as well as sea and air links," said the head of state, at a joint press conference with the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Cited by Angop, João Lourenço, who was speaking in Accra, capital of Ghana, where he is currently on a visit, said that the conception of the LCFTA took into consideration the need of the African countries to try to find answers that may help in the execution of the development goals and said that in the meeting with his counterpart, it was concluded that the implementation of the LCFTA will be long, but feasible, if all countries get involved in the process.
The President took the opportunity to underline that it is important "not to keep the current absurdity, of having to travel to Europe, to visit a brother country of our own continent".
According to João Lourenço, the continent "boasts of being one of the points of the world that has the largest world reserves of mineral resources", but does not want to continue to claim that they are "potentially rich" intending to "become, effectively, rich".
"This will only depend on us Africans", he added.
For João Lourenço, the free trade zone will help to allow for "the transition from exporters of raw materials to countries that create wealth in their own lands".
The two presidents, during the press conference, expressed some concerns about the security in the Gulf of Guinea region (to which both countries belong), which is an important international sea route, Angop wrote.
João Lourenço thanked the Ghanaians for the warm reception and highlighted the cordial way in which the meetings were held.
His Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo, emphasized the cooperation between the two countries.
