FROM VISION TO RESULTS – ECOWAS TRANSLATES THE AFCFTA INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR WEST AFRICAN BUSINESSES
"Lome,Togo, May 20, 2026. The ECOWAS Commission participated in the 3rd Edition of the Biashara Afrika Forum held in Lomé, Togo with the support of the AfDB/ECOWAS/UNDP Institutional Support Project (ISP) and the GIZ Support to ECOWAS in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The ECOWAS delegation, which was led by […]"
The ECOWAS Commission participated in the 3rd Edition of the Biashara Afrika Forum held in Lomé, Togo, with the support of the AfDB/ECOWAS/UNDP Institutional Support Project (ISP) and the GIZ Support to ECOWAS in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The ECOWAS delegation was led by Mr. Kolawole Sofola, Director of Trade, representing Dr. Kalilou Sylla, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture. It brought together representatives of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network, Business Support Organisations (BSOs), and selected export-ready SMEs from ECOWAS Member States.
Welcoming participants to the Forum, Honourable Badanam Patoki, Minister of Economy and Strategic Monitoring of the Togolese Republic, and Honourable Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, underscored the importance of translating the AfCFTA into tangible economic opportunities for Africans. They called for coordinated and practical implementation.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, highlighted the progress being made in advancing intra-African trade. He reaffirmed the central role of the private sector in driving the success of the AfCFTA.
“Without active business participation to connect markets, progress on the Agreement will remain constrained.” — H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat
He further emphasised the importance of digital trade tools, including digital payment systems, non-tariff barrier reporting mechanisms, and the e-Certificate of Origin. These tools, he said, are key to accelerating Africa’s trade transformation.
H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of the Republic of Niger and AfCFTA Champion, stressed the transformative role of the AfCFTA in promoting industrialisation, regional value chains, and economic transformation across the continent. He urged leaders to move beyond the export of raw materials and to prioritise critical infrastructure, technology, and regional cooperation as the foundations of continental industrialisation.
Before officially declaring the Forum open, H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, struck an urgent and forward-looking tone.
“The time of vision must become that of results.” — H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo
He described the AfCFTA as a vital instrument of economic sovereignty for the continent. He called for immediate action to reduce transport costs and dismantle non-tariff barriers to trade.
The three-day Forum featured thematic sessions on AfCFTA implementation spanning agriculture and food security, trade finance and digital payments, standards harmonisation, and non-tariff barriers. Discussions examined strategies for integrating smallholder farmers into regional value chains, expanding SME access to trade finance, aligning national standards with the AfCFTA Protocol on Trade in Goods, and leveraging the NTB reporting mechanism to address market access impediments in real time.
ECOWAS’s participation at Biashara Afrika 2026 formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen private sector readiness. It aimed to facilitate the effective participation of West African businesses in continental trade.
The event also complemented the Regional Capacity Building Programme on AfCFTA Export Readiness held earlier in May 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It provided participating SMEs and BSOs with practical exposure through business-to-business engagements, networking opportunities, and market linkages.
On the sidelines of the Forum, the ECOWAS Commission convened a side meeting of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network, bringing together representatives of export promotion agencies. Discussions focused on strategies to strengthen the Network’s financial sustainability, autonomy, and operational effectiveness.
The ECOWAS Commission’s participation at Biashara Afrika 2026 reaffirmed its commitment to promoting an inclusive and private sector-driven implementation of the AfCFTA. It advanced regional integration, trade competitiveness, and sustainable economic transformation across the region.
Deep Analysis
AI Intelligence
Automated insights generated by DeepSeek-V3 based on the article content.
Key Impact
- The Biashara Afrika Forum signals a shift from planning to concrete action for West African businesses under the AfCFTA, with Ghanaian SMEs expected to find new export markets across the continent.
- ECOWAS and the AfCFTA Secretariat are pushing for digital trade tools like the e-Certificate of Origin and non-tariff barrier reporting systems, which will directly reduce delays and costs for Ghanaian traders.
- The forum’s focus on integrating smallholder farmers into regional value chains could boost incomes for Ghana’s cocoa, cashew, maize, and cassava producers by linking them to buyers in other African countries.
- Ghana’s position as a logistics hub in West Africa may see increased demand for warehousing, transport, and trade finance services as intra-African trade grows.
Background
- The 3rd Biashara Afrika Forum was held in Lomé, Togo, in May 2026, organized with support from the AfDB, ECOWAS, UNDP, and GIZ to advance AfCFTA implementation.
- The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to create a single market for goods and services across 55 African nations, reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers to boost intra-African trade.
- ECOWAS’s participation included the Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network, Business Support Organisations, and export-ready SMEs from member states, including Ghana, to build private sector readiness.
- The forum built on a Regional Capacity Building Programme held earlier in May 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, which trained SMEs and business support groups on export readiness under AfCFTA.
Benefits
- Ghanaian SMEs, especially those in agro-processing and light manufacturing, can access new customers across Africa without high tariffs, making their products more competitive.
- Digital payment systems and the e-Certificate of Origin will simplify cross-border transactions, reducing paperwork and clearing times for Ghanaian exporters at borders like Aflao and Elubo.
- Smallholder farmers in Ghana’s Ashanti, Bono, and Volta regions can connect to regional food supply chains, potentially securing better prices for their crops.
- Ghana’s trade finance institutions, such as the Ghana Export-Import Bank, may benefit from expanded lending opportunities as more SMEs seek funding to enter continental markets.
Risks & Warnings
- Without strong digital infrastructure in rural Ghana, the promised digital trade tools may not reach smallholder farmers and SMEs in regions like Upper East or Northern Region, widening the urban-rural trade gap.
- Non-tariff barriers, such as uncoordinated standards or road checkpoints, could still hinder Ghanaian exports if ECOWAS members fail to harmonize regulations effectively.
- Ghanaian businesses face competition from larger, more established firms in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa that may dominate regional value chains before local SMEs can scale up.
- If transport costs within West Africa are not reduced as pledged, the benefits of tariff elimination will be eroded, particularly for perishable goods like Ghanaian vegetables and fruits.
Who Is Affected
- Ghanaian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in sectors like agro-processing, textiles, and handicrafts will gain export opportunities but must meet new quality and standards requirements.
- Smallholder farmers in Ghana’s cocoa, cashew, and staple crop sectors in regions such as Eastern, Central, and Northern Ghana stand to benefit from inclusion in regional value chains.
- Ghana’s trade and transport businesses, including freight forwarders, logistics firms, and banks offering trade finance, will face increased demand and pressure to digitize operations.
- Business support organizations like the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Association of Ghana Industries must adapt their training and advocacy to help members navigate the AfCFTA framework.
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