Mrs Mary Chiney-Hesse, Chairperson of the Center for Regional Integration in Africa (CRIA), Board of Trustees and Chancellor of the University of Ghana said that the forum is a collaboration between the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Center for Regional Integration in Africa.  She said that the forum will connect those in policy making to the Ministry in order to have a system where Regional Integration exists and thus achieve accelerated integration in Africa.

Mrs Hesse stressed that there is much to be gained from regional integration and urged the media to promote the agenda. She also urged for an agenda that promotes Africa first before considering any one else. "Let us move from talk to action and put out the indicators to success" she stated.

Professor SKB Asante, Executive Director for the CRIA, said that Regional integration has been an agenda in African development. He said that regional integration will promote togetherness which will lead to trade and thus produce goods and services for Africa rather than purchase goods produced outside the continent.

Professor Asante said that it should have been possible for Africa to trade internally but this has not been the case. "We need to produce goods for ourselves" he stated. He lauded the Ghana Beyond Aid program describing it as an important initiative.

He urged commitment to regional integration adding that it will promote success in Africa.

Honorable Fred Alupui, Managing Director of AFRIINVEST Consult limitedgave a presentation on "The lead Role of the Ghana Foreign Service in the Negotiations and Future Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)". He clarified the various stages of regional integration pointing out that Africa is moving from Continental Free Trade Union to Continental Customs Union.

He gave guidelines to negotiating trade-in services and urged countries to listen to the interventions provided by their delegates. He said that this will help to garner support and reach conclusions that will be favorable to each country.

He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration must use their bilateral powers to establish joint commissions in the various African countries to understand the benefits of trading among themselves.

The forum also entailed closed working sessions on aspects of Regional Integration and African Development as well as the Role of Diplomats in Promoting Regional Integration. Other dignitaries present were the Senior Programme Officer, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) for West and Central Africa, Mr Claude Sinzogan; the African Development Bank Manager for Regional Development and Regional Integration Department, Mr Mamady Saoure; the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana; His Excellency Olufemi Michael Abikoye and His

Excellency, Charles Josob, the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana.