Senior Technical Advisor on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation Committees, Dr. Fareed Arthur, has urged African countries to move away from nationalistic policy approaches and embrace a continental mindset if the AfCFTA is to achieve its transformative objectives.
Speaking at the Citi Business Festival 2026 Roundtable Discussion on the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Single Market: How Can Ghanaian Businesses Win Under AfCFTA?”, Dr. Arthur said many of the challenges confronting the implementation of the agreement stem from countries continuing to pursue policies from purely national perspectives rather than regional or continental ones.
According to him, AfCFTA was established to dismantle barriers that have historically fragmented Africa’s economies and create a more integrated market capable of driving trade and development across the continent.
He noted, however, that member states are still attempting to implement a multilateral agreement through national frameworks, a situation he believes is slowing progress toward deeper economic integration.
“The important thing is for countries to realise that these challenges will not solve themselves and for countries to start working, having a mental shift from national policy frameworks into continental and regional policy frameworks,” he said.
Dr. Arthur argued that trade barriers, differing regulations and inconsistent standards across African countries continue to undermine efforts to create a seamless trading environment.
He cited the example of varying standards and regulatory requirements across neighbouring countries, which often force businesses to undergo repetitive processes before accessing regional markets.
The AfCFTA advisor further stressed that governments must work together to harmonise policies and regulations, rather than focusing solely on domestic interests.
He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration among African governments, supported by advocacy from the private sector, would help accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA and unlock greater opportunities for businesses across the continent.
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