ACCRA -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday pledged to donate 10 million U.S. dollars to the African Union to support the operationalization of the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of AU on Sunday selected Ghana as the host country for AfCFTA.

The decision was announced at the 12th AU Extraordinary Summit held in Niamey, Niger after Ghana beat off competition from the other six countries including Egypt and Ethiopia.

In his acceptance speech, the president thanked the Assembly for the decision, stating that "it is a privilege that, for the first time in our nation's history, we have the responsibility of hosting an important pan-African institution."

He assured that Ghana will put all the requisite facilities at the disposal of the secretariat so that it can run as a world-class organization.

"I am determined to do whatever I can to guarantee the smooth take-off of the secretariat, and help make sure that it turns out to be a world-class institution, which will become the pride and joy of all Africans," he added.  Xinhua