Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has called for bold and pragmatic steps to accelerate intra-African trade, urging countries to adopt flexible approaches to policy implementation.
Speaking at the African Trade Conference 2026 in Cape Town, the minister stressed that progress on continental trade integration should not be delayed by the need for unanimous agreement among all member states of the African Union.
“Progress does not require all 54 countries to move at once. A few can take the lead and others will follow,” she said during a high-level ministerial panel on accelerating trade across the continent.
The Ghanaian minister highlighted the persistent challenges limiting intra-African trade, which remains significantly low compared to other regions globally.
Current estimates show that trade within Africa accounts for only about 15 percent of total exports, far below levels seen in Europe and other advanced markets.
According to Ofosu-Adjare, overcoming these barriers will require decisive action, including the removal of non-tariff constraints and the harmonisation of trade regulations across borders.
Bilateral talks focus on practical solutions
On the sidelines of the conference, the minister held discussions with her Zambian counterpart to explore practical measures to enhance trade flows between their countries.
The talks focused on reducing trade bottlenecks, aligning regulatory frameworks, and improving standards to facilitate smoother cross-border transactions.
Both sides also examined the importance of streamlining documentation processes and reducing duplication, which often delays trade and increases costs for businesses.
The discussions also underscored the need to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, with ministers agreeing that many commitments already exist but require stronger political will to enforce.
Investment in digital infrastructure was identified as a key priority to support efficient cross-border trade systems.
The Ghanaian minister emphasised that unlocking Africa’s trade potential will depend on turning policy commitments into concrete actions, expressing optimism that collaborative efforts among leading countries could set the pace for broader continental progress.
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