Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, has said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers opportunities to transform Africa’s productive capacity and enhance global competitiveness.

He noted that Africa’s low level of intra‑continental trade remained a major challenge and called for deliberate efforts to deepen economic integration.

Mr. Debrah was speaking at the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) Summit held on the theme: “Unlocking West Africa’s Economic Potential through Trade, Investment, Logistics, and Youth Development.”

The summit, organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and FEWACCI, sought to strengthen regional trade facilitation through harmonised standards and coordinated private sector advocacy.

It also aimed to promote investment in trade, logistics, and productive capacity through partnerships with financial institutions and development partners.

Other objectives included youth empowerment through mentorship, the Youth Innovation Challenge, and inclusion in regional value chains, as well as support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in digital trade, access to finance and logistics.

The summit further sought to develop actionable public‑private policy recommendations for sustainable economic transformation and reinforce FEWACCI’s role in private sector‑led regional development.

Mr Debrah said the theme aligned with Government policy direction, particularly initiatives by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and the 24‑hour economy programme to improve the business environment and industrial competitiveness.

He cited initiatives such as the Export Expansion Programme, which were supporting Ghanaian SMEs to leverage opportunities under AfCFTA and ECOWAS, while investments in value addition were boosting domestic production.

Mr Debrah said regulatory reforms, including the introduction of a one‑stop‑shop system, and initiatives such as the ‘Apprenticeship‑to‑Entrepreneur’ Programme, implemented with the Ghana Enterprise Agency, were equipping the youth with skills for enterprise development.

“The Ghana Economic Transformation Project has provided training and financial support to thousands of SMEs, demonstrating the government’s commitment to building a resilient private sector,” he said.

The Chief of Staff identified challenges including inadequate logistics infrastructure, fragmented standards, limited access to finance and high trade costs, which continue to impede intra‑regional trade.

He called for coordinated action among Government, the private sector and development partners, and urged organisations such as the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the GNCCI to intensify advocacy, investment mobilisation and enterprise development.

Mr Debrah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deepening regional integration, investing in productive capacity, empowering SMEs and the youth, and strengthening public‑private collaboration to build a prosperous West African economy.