The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, has questioned widely accepted statistics that suggest intra-African trade stands at just 15%, arguing that the actual figure could be much higher due to unrecorded informal trade and gaps in services data.
Speaking at the Ghana Roadshow of the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Accra, Mene emphasized the importance of accurate data collection, stating that stronger trade performance may already be taking shape as the continent moves toward industrialisation and value addition.
“This figure likely understates the true scale of Africa’s internal trade, given the prevalence of informal cross-border activity, data gaps, and the limited capture of trade in services,” he argued.
He highlighted AfCFTA’s commitment to reversing Africa’s long-standing dependency on raw exports, focusing instead on strengthening regional value chains, investing in industrial hubs, and pushing policies that prioritise intra-African production and trade.
“By dismantling trade barriers and eliminating non-tariff measures, we are incentivizing industries to specialize and add value here in Africa,” he opined.
The 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair, scheduled to be held in Algiers this September, is expected to serve as a major platform for securing trade deals, investments, and strategic partnerships. Mene noted that the AfCFTA Secretariat will have a pavilion at the fair to provide real-time guidance and showcase the agreement’s impact.
“Africa’s path to genuine, inclusive prosperity depends on stronger trade performance. IATF2025 is where this vision is translated into practical reality,” he added.
His remarks come at a crucial moment as African countries accelerate efforts to enhance trade collaboration, build industrial capacity, and unlock new economic opportunities across the continent.
