Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has expressed concern about the low participation of African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in cross-border trade.

She warned that the continent’s economic transformation agenda cannot be fully realised without stronger support for SMEs, women and young entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues in Accra, the Vice President noted that while the Afican Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents a historic opportunity for deeper economic integration, many businesses remain unable to take advantage of the expanded market.

“Fewer than 20 percent of SMEs engage in export trade,” she stated, describing the situation as a major obstacle to Africa’s goal of building a single integrated economic space.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the AfCFTA as the world’s largest free trade area by number of participating countries, representing a market of 1.3 billion people, and said it offers Africa a pathway from dependency to self-reliance.

However, she stressed that the continent’s future must be inclusive, cautioning that excluding young people, women and small enterprises would undermine long-term prosperity.

“A future that excludes young people, women and small enterprises is not one we can afford,” she said.

The Vice President noted that SMEs generate an estimated 80 percent of employment across Africa and contribute significantly to GDP, making them central to economic growth and job creation.

She also drew attention to the role of women, who make up nearly half of Africa’s workforce and are major drivers of micro and small enterprises, yet continue to face unequal barriers to finance, mobility and market access.