Trade Minister calls for bold continental action at African Trade Conference 2026
Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, emerged as one of the standout voices at the African Trade Conference 2026 held in Cape Town, South Africa.
She used the platform to advocate pragmatic, country-led solutions to Africa’s long-standing trade integration challenges, urging a shift from slow, consensus-driven approaches to more decisive action.
Speaking at a High-Level Ministerial Panel on accelerating continental trade, the Minister made a strong case for a flexible approach to policy harmonisation—one that allows willing countries to move ahead without waiting for all 54 African Union member states to agree.
“Progress does not require all 54 countries to move at once. A few can take the lead and others will follow,” she stated.
On the sidelines of the conference, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare held bilateral talks with her Zambian counterpart, focusing on practical steps to reduce non-tariff barriers, harmonise standards, and align regulatory frameworks across borders.
Central to the discussions was the need to significantly boost intra-African trade, which remains low at about 15 per cent of total exports—far below Europe’s over 60 per cent.
The ministers agreed that progress will depend on cutting duplication in trade documentation, investing in cross-border digital infrastructure, and strengthening political will to fully implement commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
