At the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2025, President John Dramani Mahama underscored the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area, calling it a game-changing opportunity for businesses and industries across the continent.
Speaking to an audience of leaders and stakeholders, President Mahama stressed that the AfCFTA, once fully realized, could create the largest free trade area in the world, offering unprecedented opportunities for African entrepreneurs to expand their reach and operations. He noted that the agreement represents a transformative force for African businesses, offering vast potential for economic growth and increased trade within the continent and beyond.
However, he pointed out that simply liberalizing trade under AfCFTA would not be enough to maximize its benefits. He outlined three essential strategies that African nations must adopt to unlock its full potential. He emphasized the critical need for investment in infrastructure, such as roads, rail networks, ports, and digital connectivity, to facilitate smoother and more efficient trade across African borders.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening intra-African supply chains, ensuring that African industries are capable of producing goods and services that meet regional and global standards, which is essential for intra-African trade and competitiveness. Additionally, he stressed the need to harmonize trade policies across the continent, reduce non-tariff barriers, and lower the cost of doing business to make cross-border trade seamless and efficient.
President Mahama noted that by committing to these strategies, Africa could unlock a market worth $3.4 trillion, creating jobs and prosperity for millions of Africans.
