The 2026 FEWACCI Summit in Accra emphasized the need for urgent action to unlock West Africa’s economic potential through regional trade, improved logistics, and youth empowerment. Keynote speaker Julius Debrah highlighted that intra-African trade remains low, with trade within ECOWAS accounting for only 10-12%. He stressed the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance regional value chains and global competitiveness.
However, challenges such as poor logistics, high trade costs, and limited SME financing were acknowledged.
Deputy Minister Hon. Sampson Ahi called for aligning trade facilitation with SME capacity and addressing inefficiencies in logistics, certification, and production costs.
The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Kamal-Deen Ali, emphasized the critical role of logistics in making trade agreements effective, and outlined ongoing infrastructure projects to improve connectivity.
Madam Harriet Gayi from TradeMark Africa noted the untapped potential of regional trade, stressing the importance of reducing trade costs, improving border systems, and supporting youth- and women-led SMEs.
The summit concluded with calls for stronger public-private sector collaboration, improved infrastructure, and actionable outcomes to transform West Africa into a competitive economic bloc.
