Ghana Leads Push for Stronger African Trade
According to the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana remains committed to breaking down barriers to trade and championing a single, integrated African market.
She said this following a high-level engagement with the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, H.E. Francisca Tatchoup Belobe, during a courtesy visit in Accra.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare said Ghana is leading by example in tackling the obstacles that hold back African trade.
She said government is taking deliberate steps to address non-tariff barriers, which she described as the most complex and damaging impediments to cross-border commerce.
“While tariffs can be factored into production costs, non-tariff barriers often create more complex difficulties for businesses seeking to access new markets,” she said.
The Minister stressed that Ghana’s vision aligns with the AU’s goal of a single continental market where goods, services, people and businesses can move freely to drive industrial growth and build strong regional value chains.
As part of efforts to lead the charge, she disclosed that Ghana has appointed a new coordinator for the AfCFTA national office to assess the country’s progress, identify gaps and chart a clear path to maximizing benefits under the agreement.
She said government is also preparing Ghanaian businesses, especially women-owned enterprises producing gari, garments and other locally manufactured goods, to compete effectively in export markets through training, capacity building and market linkage support.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare further called for enhanced cooperation on standards and conformity assessment, noting that Ghana’s strong standards institutions can support mutual recognition of standards across the continent to reduce trade restrictions.
She expressed confidence that Ghana’s policies in pharmaceuticals, components manufacturing, textiles and garments, and agribusiness will complement the work of the AfCFTA Secretariat and position the country at the forefront of continental trade.
The AU Commissioner commended Ghana for its continued leadership in the continent’s integration agenda and for hosting the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
She noted that while continental trade frameworks have been adopted, intra-African trade remains below its potential due to persistent challenges including fragmented payment systems, currency constraints and non-tariff barriers.
She stressed the need for stronger political will to translate policies into tangible benefits for businesses and citizens, and called for practical solutions to create a truly integrated market.
She also highlighted interventions by institutions such as Afreximbank to facilitate cross-border payments and sought Ghana’s support in strengthening them.
She further emphasised the need to deliberately support women and young entrepreneurs to participate in regional and continental trade as a critical driver of sustainable growth.
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