Newly appointed Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Legal Network (CLN), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, is optimistic about a surge in economic cooperation among Commonwealth nations and the role lawyers will play in facilitating it.
In an interview with Asaase Radio following his appointment, he spoke of an emerging global shift that places the Commonwealth at the heart of expanded trade, investment, and legal collaboration.
Otchere-Darko, who also serves as the Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network and Senior Partner at Africa Legal Associates, outlined how shifts in global economic strategies are drawing Commonwealth member states closer.
He highlighted the changing outlook of key economies like Canada, alongside the ambitions of India, Australia, Caribbean nations, and a rapidly integrating African continent.
“With countries like Canada looking beyond North America for closer economic ties, India, Australia, and the Caribbean states all eager to see the existing commonwealth advantage being enhanced, policy-wise, for greater trade and investment among member states, and Africa actively building a single market, with 21 members of the African Union also being Commonwealth members, we at both CWEIC and CLN see huge opportunities before us and want to see greater interplay among businesses across these various markets and lawyers assisting them in navigating smoothly for broader shared prosperity and more jobs for the people,” he said.
The CLN, a commercial legal body supported by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), aims to provide the legal backbone needed to support deepened intra-Commonwealth economic ties.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gaining momentum and the Commonwealth representing a wide range of economies across several continents, Otchere-Darko’s comments underscore the strategic importance of legal infrastructure in facilitating cross-border economic activity.
