ECOWAS Ministers Meet in Accra to Tackle Border Trade Barriers & Boost Industrialization



               Story by Azaglo Michael      


Accra become the heartbeat of West Africa, as the official host of the 5th Joint Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry today.

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‎As economic integration takes center stage, stakeholders are convening to address the urgent need for seamless cross-border trade and industrial transformation."

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‎Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, opened the proceedings with a clarion call for deeper regional integration. Emphasizing that unity is no longer optional, she highlighted the critical role of this meeting in advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and building on the outcomes of the Yaoundé discussions.


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Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, 


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‎"Industrialization is the engine for youth job creation," Hon. Ofosu-Adjare stated. "By collaborating on cross-border supply chains, we can fully leverage the advantages of the AfCFTA."

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‎Addressing the persistent challenge of trade barriers, the Minister expressed her commitment to a seamless border policy.

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"I am not intimidated by tariff variations. We must resolve these bottlenecks; closing borders is not the solution.

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Africa must trade with itself, and we aim to reach actionable conclusions before this meeting concludes." She also extended her sincere appreciation to H.E. John Dramani Mahama for the leadership and resources provided to drive this critical regional agenda.

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‎Representing Nigeria, the Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, underscored the importance of this gathering. Building on the momentum from Nigeria’s hosting of last year’s session, Dr. Oduwole advocated for strategic partnerships to unlock global value chains, enhance productivity, and bridge the infrastructure gap across the ECOWAS sub-region.

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Minister for Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole

‎Providing the perspective of the ECOWAS Commission, Director of Trade, Mr. Kola Sofola, highlighted a progressive vision for the bloc’s 51st anniversary.


ECOWAS Commission, Director of Trade, Mr. Kola Sofola


 He noted that the Commission has adopted strategic plans specifically targeting youth and women traders.

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‎"Our goal is inclusivity," Mr. Sofola remarked. "Through robust capacity-building and institutional strengthening, we are implementing a master plan for road, transport, and energy infrastructure. Deepening logistics and storage capabilities is the only way to ensure growth reaches every citizen across the ECOWAS region."

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‎As the meeting progresses, all eyes are on Accra, where the decisions made this week are expected to define the future of industrial policy and trade liberalization in West Africa.

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