Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament and 3rd Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, delivered a stark warning at the Crans Montana Forum, highlighting the severe obstacles hindering intra-African trade and urging immediate reforms to prevent further economic fragmentation.
He identified high port costs, logistical problems, and the absence of joint industrial planning as key obstacles to intra-African trade, highlighting a failed trade deal between Morocco and Ghana, where added port fees and tariffs tripled costs, causing the venture to collapse.
“Initially, it was more cost-effective to import poultry from Morocco than from Brazil or the Netherlands,” he explained. “But when the port charges and tariffs were added, the cost tripled. The Moroccan investors pulled out, and the opportunity was lost.”
Afenyo-Markin asserted that the failed Moroccan-Ghanaian poultry venture reveals a wider structural flaw forcing African businesses to prioritize trade outside the continent over trading with each other.
He expressed concern for countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, whose access to global trade relies on coastal neighbors but is hindered by inefficiencies and security threats along crucial transport routes.
“We talk about regional integration, yet transport networks between Ghana and Lagos remain underdeveloped. Modern rail connections are poor, and roads are riddled with inefficiencies, red tape, and sometimes insecurity,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
The Ghanaian lawmaker recognized the presence of ECOWAS and AfCFTA but underscored that their effectiveness relies on forward-thinking infrastructure development and aligned regulations, which are presently absent. He pointed out that Africa’s inherent shortcomings render commerce with Europe or Asia more economical, hindering domestic output and exacerbating reliance.
He urged immediate steps, imploring ECOWAS nations to simplify harbor fees, fund infrastructure for transportation across borders, and encourage shared manufacturing strategies.
Furthermore underscoring the pressing need, Afenyo-Markin warned that the recent departure of certain Sahelian nations from ECOWAS further muddies regional trade regulations, creating ambiguity regarding unrestricted movement and commerce regulations.
“If we cannot build a fluid, predictable, and cost-effective regional trade system, then we leave our people with no choice but to look beyond Africa for trade,” he warned.
Amidst Crans Montana Forum talks on peace, integration, and development, Afenyo-Markin’s contribution powerfully underscored the urgent necessity for real, practical steps to convert discussions into actual improvements, especially concerning trade and infrastructure.
Story by: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
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