- Intra-African trade is hindered by cumbersome border inspections, harassment, bribes, and poor infrastructure.
- The Secretary-General of the African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure and the removal of tariffs to facilitate commerce.
- Kenya and Ghana strengthen commercial ties under AfCFTA, while Uganda sees AfCTA as a long-term solution to trade barriers with Kenya.
African trade experts have highlighted a number of obstacles preventing the intra-African market from maximizing its potential, including cumbersome border inspections, harassment, solicitation from security officers, bribes from traders, and poor roads.
This information was revealed in the most recent issue of Pathway Africa, which our correspondent acquired from the Ministry of Aviation.
“Only a few hundred kilometers separate Lagos, Nigeria, from Accra in Ghana but for the thousands of traders who ply this route, the journey through these routes can take a full day. Customs officials and police at roadblocks will make you unload and unpack every little package in order to delay you for hours,” Lucia Quachey, the secretary-general of the African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, stated.