The President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Stéphane Miezan, has lamented the low level of intra-African trade across the continent.

According to him, trade among African countries stands at only about 18 percent, highlighting a significant gap that must be addressed.

Speaking at the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) – GNCCI 2026 Summit in Accra on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Miezan stressed that these figures reflect missed opportunities for industrialisation and job creation.

“Intra-African trade accounts for only about 15 to 18 percent of total trade, while intra-West African trade within ECOWAS is even lower, at approximately 10 to 12 percent. This is far below the levels observed in other regions of the world,” he said.

Scrap Agric Ministry if Ghana cannot produce tomatoes – FABAG

He added, “This reality is not just a statistic, it is a reflection of missed opportunities for industrialisation, job creation, and economic resilience.”

Miezan urged African countries to confront regional constraints that continue to limit trade within West Africa and the continent at large.

He explained that low levels of intra-regional trade reduce incentives for production and restrict industrial expansion.

He further emphasised that the private sector and chambers of commerce must take a leading role in promoting trade, supporting SMEs to access regional markets, and strengthening regional value chains.

SA/MA