David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner at AB & David Africa, has criticised the current pace of African integration, urging leaders to stop waiting for continental consensus and instead form a coalition of the willing to drive immediate economic transformation.

Speaking at the Crystal Ball Africa 2026 forum held at the Labadi Beach Hotel on January 22, the veteran legal strategist and analyst warned that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is being undermined by a "top-down" bureaucracy that lacks both local funding and genuine commitment from its member states.

Moving Beyond the 'Accra Reset'

Addressing the theme, "The Africa Opportunity - Time to take advantage," Mr Ofosu-Dorte proposed a radical shift: a strategy where two or three "ready" countries move ahead with deep integration rather than waiting for all 54 nations to align.

“What I would rather do if I were in his [Mahama's] shoes is to be taking one or two countries who are ready to go ahead and do what they are trying to do all together, and it's just not working, and say, let these two or three countries come together,” he advised. “I think the AU's eyes are already open. If he [President Mahama] does the 'Accra Reset' and continues in the line others have, I think he will just be following what others have been doing,” Mr Ofosu-Dorte remarked.

The AfCFTA Funding Paradox

The analyst highlighted a "disturbing" trend where African countries proclaim support for the AfCFTA while simultaneously signing contradictory bilateral deals and failing to fund the project’s own secretariat.

He revealed that approximately 80% of the AfCFTA Secretariat's budget is reportedly funded by external partners like the European Union (EU).

“What is the point of signing an AfCFTA if Mauritius, Kenya, the individual countries are signing direct agreements when the AfCFTA itself says that you can act together? Much worse, African countries are not putting their money where their mouth is,” he lamented. “About 20% of the budget of the AfCFTA Secretariat is what is funded by the African countries. The rest is coming from the EU and the rest. How do you expect somebody to fund your own free trade for you?”

2026: The Year of Convergence

Despite the structural criticisms, Mr. Ofosu-Dorte remains "bullish" on the continent’s long-term transformation.

He predicted that 2026—the Year of the Fire Horse—will be defined by a "convergence of many things," including shifting global orders in energy, AI, and military power.

He argued that the real "push" for integration will not come from government summits but from the private sector.

“I believe in taking action with or without government, and I think businesses seeking to work together across Africa, trying to take advantage of the market by itself is what will push our leaders to do the right thing,” he concluded.