Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), has emphasised the need for inclusivity in efforts to build Africa’s single market, insisting that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, and informal sector operators must be placed at the centre of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agenda.
He argued that a single African market cannot function effectively unless it reflects the continent’s economic realities, where SMEs and informal businesses account for the bulk of employment, production, and overall economic activity.
Speaking ahead of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues scheduled for February 4 to 6, Mr Otchere-Darko noted that SMEs are the backbone of Africa’s economy and must be deliberately positioned to benefit from continental integration.
“The idea is that if a single market is to work, it must be inclusive. For a continent where 80 per cent of employment is created within the SME sector, where 90 per cent of businesses are SMEs, and where about 83 per cent of our GDP comes from this sector, if you are going to build a single market, then you must engage, follow, and drive it,” he said.
Appearing on The Upside Down Show on Channel One TV on Sunday, February 1, 2026, Mr Otchere-Darko also underscored the importance of gender inclusion, pointing out that a significant share of SMEs are owned by women, many of whom operate within the informal economy.
“About 33 per cent of SMEs are owned by women. We have a lot of women in the informal sector. How do we scale them up? How do we empower them?” he asked.
He further highlighted the African Union’s AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, introduced in 2024, describing it as a major opportunity to deepen inclusion and accelerate Africa’s participation in the fourth industrial revolution.
According to Mr Otchere-Darko, digital trade is already reshaping commercial participation across the continent by reducing barriers for informal businesses.
“What we are seeing with digital trade is that even those in the informal sector are being included because they can now bank without going to a traditional bank. They can buy and sell using just their mobile money wallet,” he said.
He stressed that the full implementation of AfCFTA rules, regulations, and protocols could unlock significant opportunities for SMEs, women, and young people to access Africa’s estimated 1.5 billion consumer market.
“It’s really possible. When the rules and regulations and treaties and protocols are implemented, it can empower SMEs, the informal sector, the women, and the youth to access this big market,” he noted.
Mr Otchere-Darko added that a fully operational single market would also make Africa more attractive to investors, as businesses would no longer be confined to individual national markets.
“So if you get a single market working, then you will have companies setting up on the continent because they know they are not just looking at Ghana’s 35 million market. They are going beyond,” he said.
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