At the 2025 West African Automotive Show (WAAS) in Lagos, the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association made a resounding appeal to ECOWAS and African leaders: move from promises to tangible action on regional trade integration.
The Association’s General Secretary, Mrs. Gifty Fianu, issued a sharp critique of the prevailing trade challenges faced by auto parts dealers across West Africa, particularly under the ECOWAS and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) frameworks.
“Nigerians have refused to accept [the ECOWAS travel certificate], and that is very frustrating, also importing from other African countries under AfCFTA is not working smoothly,” she lamented, underscoring the continued dysfunction in cross-border mobility.
Her remarks add to growing concerns from business stakeholders about the gap between Africa’s pan-regional trade ambitions and the on-the-ground realities. Mrs. Fianu urged policymakers to deliver more than lip service.
“While we champion AfCFTA, we expect it to work better. Our leaders must follow through with the ECOWAS treaty,” she said.
The West African Automotive Show served as more than just a trade exhibition for the Abossey Okai dealers. It became a springboard for strategic partnerships and investment.
“It helped us get investors and suppliers, this year is unique it’s aimed at making business easier for us. We in Ghana lack significant capital, so we need partners, and the event presents such opportunities,” Mrs. Fianu noted.
Representing one of the largest automotive spare parts hubs in West Africa, the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association continues to be a pivotal player in regional commerce. Their call highlights a growing impatience among African entrepreneurs for reforms that translate high-level trade agreements into real economic empowerment and seamless cross-border transactions.
