African Leaders and Experts Champion Regional Integration to Dismantle Trade and Energy Barriers

Leaders and technical experts across West Africa are intensifying calls for deep-seated regional integration to unlock economic potential and ensure industrial growth. At the heart of these discussions is the urgent need to transition from nationalistic policy frameworks to a harmonized continental mindset. With intra-African trade currently stagnating at approximately 10%—strikingly lower than the European Union's 60%—officials from the trade, energy, and engineering sectors are advocating for the removal of systemic barriers that have long hindered the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ECOWAS objectives.

Addressing the Fifth Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers, Ghana’s Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, emphasized that non-tariff barriers remain more disruptive than traditional duties. She noted that seamless border operations and harmonized trade rules are essential for meaningful economic integration. This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Fareed Arthur, a Senior Technical Advisor for AfCFTA, who argued that the slow pace of integration stems from countries prioritizing national policies over regional cooperation. Both experts believe that leveraging digitalization and fostering private sector advocacy will be critical in creating the "continental mindset" necessary to unlock new business opportunities across member states.

The drive for integration extends beyond trade into the vital sectors of energy and infrastructure. At the West Africa Gas Summit, industry veteran Tsatsu Tsikata highlighted the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) as a foundational model for regional energy security. Tsikata urged for secure payment mechanisms and stable supply chains, particularly leveraging Nigeria’s gas reserves to fuel industrialization in neighboring countries like Ghana. Deputy Minister Richard Gyan-Mensah supported this view, emphasizing that gas must be leveraged for socio-economic growth rather than being viewed solely as a raw resource.

Concurrently, engineering leaders are preparing to gather in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for the West African Federation of Engineering Organizations (WAFEO) conference. Led by President Eng. Dadley Toe, the federation aims to standardize professional qualifications and quality assurance frameworks, asserting that sustainable regional development is impossible without integrated engineering capacity and shared technical standards. These multi-sectoral efforts underscore a growing consensus that Africa’s economic future depends on dismantling borders—both physical and regulatory—and shifting toward implementation over mere framework-building.