In a strategic push to unlock regional trade potential, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, through its Directorates of Trade and Private Sector, partnered with the Federation of West Africa Employers’ Organizations (FOPAO) to host a three-day capacity-building workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Held from April 2 to 4, 2025, in Accra, Ghana, the workshop gathered private sector stakeholders from across West Africa to deepen their understanding of AfCFTA frameworks and trade opportunities.
Representing the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Mr. Kolawole Sofola, ECOWAS Director of Trade, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to fostering regional economic integration. He called on the business community to actively engage with the AfCFTA, positioning themselves to take full advantage of its benefits as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary.
Mr. Ousseine Diallo, Executive Secretary of FOPAO, lauded the ECOWAS Commission for organizing the workshop and encouraged participants to utilize the insights gained to advance the private sector’s role in AfCFTA implementation at national levels.
Delivering remarks on behalf of AfCFTA Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene, Mr. Mohammed Ali, Director of Trade in Goods and Competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, outlined the agreement’s transformative goals: establishing a unified African market, boosting intra-continental trade, and promoting competitiveness and industrial development. He reaffirmed the critical role of Regional Economic Communities like ECOWAS in supporting member states.
The workshop featured detailed sessions on AfCFTA protocols, operational tools, and ECOWAS’s implementation strategy, equipping participants with the knowledge needed to navigate and maximize opportunities under the continental agreement.
Also at the event, Professor Nazifi Abdullahi Darma commended Professor Adeola Adenikinju for his leadership in strengthening the Nigerian Economic Society (NES), pledging his continued support and offering strategic insights to boost the organization’s policy influence in Nigeria.
