African leaders have launched a new high-level political body to accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a move aimed at overcoming delays that have slowed progress toward deeper regional economic integration.
The new structure is expected to coordinate policy alignment, remove trade barriers, and improve execution across member states. Ghana hosts the AfCFTA secretariat, placing the country at the center of efforts to expand intra-African trade.
“Execution has been the biggest challenge for continental trade integration,” a regional trade analyst said.
Why It Matters for Ghana
As host nation of the AfCFTA headquarters, Ghana stands to benefit significantly from increased trade flows, investment, and logistics activity. Stronger implementation could boost exports and strengthen the country’s position as a regional business hub.
Continental Stakes
The AfCFTA agreement is one of the world’s largest trade initiatives by number of participating countries. Economists say its success could reshape Africa’s economic landscape by reducing reliance on external markets and boosting internal commerce.
“If fully implemented, AfCFTA could transform Africa’s economic trajectory,” the analyst added.
Outlook
Leaders say the new political body will focus on removing practical barriers to trade, including customs delays, regulatory inconsistencies, and infrastructure gaps.
