Ghanaian Foreign Minister Calls For Removal Of Trade Barriers Within West Africa

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Ablakwa, urged West African nations to remove “artificial barriers” to regional trade and investment in a powerful speech delivered in Abuja over the weekend.

His comments came during a visit to the River Park Estate, a significant real estate investment by Ghanaian entrepreneurs in Nigeria, as part of his official visit.

Minister Ablakwa emphasised that the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) provides an important opportunity to reenergise efforts to promote intra-regional trade and investment by West African citizens.

He emphasised the importance of prioritising African solutions and cooperation, especially in light of shifting global priorities and potential cuts to foreign aid.

“The recent decision by American President Donald Trump to halt aid to Africa should serve as a wake-up call for countries in West Africa and elsewhere in Africa to encourage trade and investment among themselves and to prioritise Africa over others,” Ablakwa said.

Ablakwa spoke passionately about the River Park Estate, hailing it as a practical example of Pan-Africanism in action. “This is representative of that, and I am very inspired by what has been accomplished here,” he said, referring to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of African self-reliance.

He criticised the “artificial boundaries” imposed during the colonial era, which still divide the continent, and emphasised the need to transcend these divisions.

He also advocated for a shift in investment narratives, urging African nations to welcome investors from within the continent.

“Nigerians can come to Ghana to invest, create jobs, and transform our countries. And it should be possible for Ghanaians to come to Nigeria, create jobs, and transform the landscape, the kaleidoscope of Nigeria, as we see today.”

Ablakwa lamented the low levels of intra-African trade, emphasising the critical need to remove these barriers and invest in a supportive business ecosystem. “If you look at the statistics, we do not do business with ourselves. We do not trade amongst ourselves.

“It is less than 20%; intra-European trade is over 60%; intra-Asian trade is over 60%; but intra-African trade is extremely low, and we need to break down those artificial barriers and invest in the business ecosystem, creating opportunities for venture capital funds, nurturing young entrepreneurs, and consciously promoting made in Africa.”

Kojo Mensah, MD/CEO of Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, and Mobus Property Development, echoed Minister Ablakwa’s sentiments, citing the River Park Estate’s success as an example of Ghanaian-Nigerian collaboration.

“Africa’s future will not be written in Beijing, Washington, or Brussels, but here, by us.” Mensah added that the project had created thousands of jobs and significantly boosted Nigeria’s GDP.

The Minister’s message echoed a call for West African nations to embrace self-reliance, remove trade barriers, and foster an environment conducive to intra-regional investment, paving the way for a more prosperous and integrated future for the sub-region.