The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has emphasized the need for accountability and real results in Africa’s economic integration at the Africa Trade Summit 2026 held in Accra on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
The Vice President stressed that vision alone is not enough to sustain Africa’s trade momentum, highlighting the importance of completing infrastructure projects on time and making firms competitive.
“With the African Continental Free Trade Area now in force, our continent has created the largest free trade area in the world by number of participating countries, linking 1.3 billion people within a market of over $3 trillion,’’ she said.
The Africa Trade Summit 2026 in Accra was a high-profile event that brought together influential individuals from various sectors including CEOs and executives from top African companies, Development Partners, Diplomats, Industry Experts, Entrepreneurs, investors, and trade associations from across Africa.
It is aimed to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation, industrialization, and trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Professor Naana Jane outlined five key priorities for Africa’s economic growth:
– Intra-African Trade: Deepening exchange of goods and services among neighbouring nations
– Industrial Policy: Supporting priority sectors and promoting sustainable production
– Infrastructure and Connectivity: Strengthening physical and digital links
– Innovation and Technology: Leveraging new tools for efficiency and competitiveness
– Institutional Capacity and Governance: Reinforcing governance foundations for lasting reform
She added that Ghana is committed to playing her part in the continental transformation, noting “our 24-Hour Economy initiative is designed to unlock productivity by aligning infrastructure, financing, and institutional coordination, ensuring that economic activity is no longer constrained by inefficiency or lost time.”
The Vice President urged African member states to match Ghana’s commitment to transformation with action, aiming to shift Africa from a consumer of global goods to a competitive manufacturing hub.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
