West Africa leaders and industry chiefs pledge to unlock regional trade potential at Accra summit

Policymakers, industry leaders, and private sector stakeholders convened in Accra on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, for the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) Summit, issuing a unified call for urgent action to address the structural barriers hindering economic integration across the sub-region.

The summit centered on practical strategies to boost trade, overhaul inefficient logistics networks, and harness the potential of youth entrepreneurship to drive economic transformation.

Delivering the keynote address, Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, highlighted a critical challenge facing the region, noting that intra-African trade within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains stagnated at an average of just 10 to 12 percent. He warned that this persistent low level of commerce undermines the region’s collective economic strength.

Mr. Debrah pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a pivotal opportunity to build resilient regional value chains and boost industrialization. However, he stressed that progress is being stifled by structural impediments, including inefficient logistics, prohibitively high cross-border transport costs, and limited access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He called for coordinated investments from both governments and the private sector to address these constraints and enhance trade efficiency.

The call for reform was echoed by Sampson Ahi, Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, who emphasized that trade facilitation policies must align with the operational realities faced by SMEs. He noted that complex certification processes and high production costs often exclude smaller businesses from regional markets.

“Deliberate reforms are needed to simplify trade procedures, improve standards certification systems, and reduce bottlenecks within supply chains,” Mr. Ahi stated, arguing that such measures are essential to enable SMEs to fully participate in continental trade.

On the topic of logistics, Kamal-Deen Ali, Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, described efficient ports and transportation systems as the backbone of successful trade agreements. He outlined ongoing infrastructure and regulatory interventions aimed at improving port efficiency and connectivity across West Africa, cautioning that without a coordinated logistics framework, the benefits of agreements like the AfCFTA would remain unrealized.

The summit also placed a strong emphasis on inclusive growth. Harriet Gayi of TradeMark Africa noted that West Africa possesses enormous, yet largely untapped, trade potential. She advocated for strategic investments in border infrastructure and digital trade systems, coupled with targeted support for youth and women-led enterprises, which she described as critical drivers of innovation and inclusive economic growth.

Throughout the day, discussions consistently underscored the importance of public-private partnerships, policy consistency, and deeper regional cooperation as essential ingredients for overcoming long-standing trade barriers and strengthening economic integration.