Ghana has renewed its call for an African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) that works for small businesses, women and young people, stressing that inclusive growth is central to Africa’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the Africa Prosperity Dialogue (APD) 2026 in Accra on Thursday, 5th February 2026, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said Africa’s single market must move beyond policy commitments to deliver real opportunities for those who drive the continent’s economies.
Addressing participants on Day Two of the Dialogue, themed “Empowering SMEs, Women & Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate. Collaborate. Trade,” the Minister described Ghana’s hosting of the AfCFTA Secretariat as a symbol of Africa’s shared ambition for integration and industrial growth.
She noted steady progress since trading under the AfCFTA began in 2021, including increased ratifications, expanded participation in the Guided Trade Initiative, and the adoption of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade. According to her, these milestones represent a binding commitment to inclusion.
“Micro, small and medium enterprises account for over 90 per cent of businesses across Africa. In Ghana, women lead nearly half of them, and our youth remain a powerful engine of innovation. Empowering these groups is not a choice; it is an economic necessity,” she said.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare outlined Ghana’s renewed industrial and trade focus under President John Dramani Mahama, highlighting efforts to expand value addition, strengthen exports and integrate agribusiness into industrial policy. She pointed to initiatives such as the Feed the Industry Programme, business export sensitisation for over 2,800 firms, skills development for more than 155,000 entrepreneurs, and targeted support for women- and youth-led enterprises, including access to finance through the Ghana Economic Transformation Project.
To unlock AfCFTA’s full potential, the Minister identified four priorities: full operationalisation of the AfCFTA, investment in trade infrastructure, innovative financing for women and youth enterprises, and stronger public-private and cross-border partnerships.
Adding a security perspective, the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, emphasised that effective border management and security are essential enablers of trade, particularly for women and youth engaged in cross-border commerce.
The Dialogue continues with high-level engagements focused on turning AfCFTA commitments into measurable outcomes for inclusive growth and shared prosperity across Africa.
