Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Monday, August 18, 2025, called on the private sectors of Ghana and Nigeria to be at the forefront of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at the graduation of Course 33 of the Nigerian National Defence College (NDC) , he stressed that the two countries “cannot afford to let this window of opportunity slip”.
Addressing the graduating class, Akufo-Addo underscored the importance of strengthening the African Union as a critical ingredient for economic progress and good governance. He highlighted the AfCFTA, whose secretariat is located in Accra, as an essential instrument for this goal. The former president noted that intra-African trade is currently estimated at only 16% of the continent’s collective GDP, compared to 75% for the European Union.
Akufo-Addo said that Nigeria, as an “economic powerhouse of Africa,” has a significant role to play in the vast market of 1.4 billion people. He expressed hope that a marked enhancement of intra-African trade will stimulate investment and innovation, improve food security, and solve the long-standing challenge of youth unemployment by unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit of African peoples.
He urged both the Ghanaian and Nigerian governments to actively facilitate and support their private sectors to take advantage of the immense possibilities presented by the AfCFTA.
In his address on “Strengthening Institutions for Good Governance in Africa”, Akufo-Addo also touched on other key areas, including the critical role of strong institutions in economic growth. He explained that when the judiciary is independent, contracts are enforced and property rights are protected, businesses invest with confidence. This creates trust in the governance system and generates wealth for the people.
