Participants at the Ghana High-Level Roadshow for the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF)
The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, has issued a clarion call for deeper intra-African trade, citing Africa’s stagnant share of global trade—just 3%—despite the continent’s vast natural resources and economic potential.
Speaking at the Ghana High-Level Roadshow for the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Accra on June 10, 2025, Mene emphasized that the continent’s path to genuine prosperity lies in scaling up regional trade, strengthening value chains, and accelerating industrialization under the AfCFTA framework.
“All roads lead to Algiers this September,” the Secretary-General declared, referencing the upcoming IATF2025, which will be hosted in Algeria from September 4, 2025.
“The IATF is more than a trade fair. It is a platform where the promise of AfCFTA becomes reality—trade deals are signed, investments mobilized, and jobs created.”
While informal cross-border activities and services trade remain underrepresented in official statistics, intra-African trade currently stands at 15–17%—a stark contrast to intra-regional trade in Europe (70%) and Asia (60%).
Mene highlighted that the AfCFTA is Africa’s strategy to shift from a raw-material-export model to one based on value addition, industrial hubs, and intercontinental supply chains.
“We are breaking down tariff and non-tariff barriers, incentivizing local production, and laying the groundwork for regional value chains in key sectors like agro-processing, manufacturing, and the automotive industry,” he noted.
Representing Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the Acting AfCFTA National Coordinator, Benjamin Asiam, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to championing trade integration.
“As host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Ghana is actively building an enabling environment for trade,” Asiam stated.
“Our flagship economic transformation agenda centers on restructuring the economy through digitization, export development, and agro-industrialization.”
Ghana has issued over 1,000 AfCFTA Certificates of Origin and developed a National Policy Framework to support effective implementation of the trade agreement. The country has also conducted targeted trade missions to East Africa and is working to harmonize standards and streamline customs procedures to facilitate the movement of goods across borders.
Oakwood Green Africa Chairman and IATF Ambassador, Gabriel Edgal, reminded participants of Ghana’s logistical advantage and its potential to become a central transshipment hub for African trade.
“Africa is producing for Africa. With ports, free zones, and our Atlantic coastline, Ghana is strategically positioned to facilitate trade between West, Central, and Southern Africa,” Edgal stated.
“IATF2025 is where transporters, financiers, entrepreneurs, and creatives converge to do real business.”
Dr. Yemi Kale, Managing Director and Chief Economist at Afreximbank, emphasized that the IATF is not a peripheral event but a key driver of African economic development.
“It connects ambition to capital, policy to productivity, and markets to manufacturers,” Dr. Kale said.
Themed “Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Industrialization and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA”, the fourth edition of the IATF is expected to bring together over 2,000 exhibitors and more than 35,000 visitors from across 140 countries.
AM/KA
