West Africa will require an estimated US$1.5 billion to accelerate its development agenda, but financing alone will not be enough unless regional leaders focus on implementing policies that deliver tangible economic results, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, has said.
Speaking at the Fifth Joint ECOWAS Meeting of Ministers of Trade and Industry in Accra, Mr. Sesay stressed that the region must move beyond policy discussions and adopt practical measures capable of advancing industrialisation, trade and regional integration.
He indicated that ECOWAS is increasingly shifting its focus from policy formulation to implementation, arguing that the success of the bloc’s economic agenda will depend on how effectively member states translate strategies into action.
“We are moving from policy documents to packaged implementation tools. ECOWAS is already funding that shift,” Mr. Sesay said.
According to him, decisions taken at the Accra meeting will play a crucial role in shaping the economic future of West Africa and determining the pace of industrial transformation across the sub-region.
Mr. Sesay observed that Africa’s long-term growth prospects will be driven by vibrant industrial centres, interconnected markets and strong regional value chains rather than isolated national development projects.
He therefore called for greater collaboration among member states to build a stronger economic foundation capable of supporting sustainable growth and competitiveness.
The ECOWAS Trade and Industry Chair emphasized that the region must prioritize initiatives that create jobs, strengthen manufacturing and expand opportunities for businesses across borders.
His remarks come at a time when Ghana is actively promoting a regional industrialisation strategy centred on value addition to Africa’s abundant mineral resources through its “mine together, process together” agenda.
Opening the meeting, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said Africa can no longer afford to delay efforts to industrialise and deepen intra-African trade despite being richly endowed with natural resources.
She noted that the continent possesses significant deposits of gold, diamonds, bauxite, copper, iron ore, lithium, manganese and cobalt, yet continues to export many of these resources in their raw form.
According to her, the continued export of unprocessed commodities limits opportunities for industrial development, job creation and value retention within African economies.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare cited global trade data showing that Africa accounts for less than one percent of global exports despite its vast resource base and growing population.
She argued that the continent must accelerate investments in manufacturing, logistics and industrial infrastructure if it is to improve its position in global trade and benefit fully from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The minister called for increased investment in transport networks, storage facilities and industrial processing capacity, while also addressing non-tariff barriers that continue to restrict trade flows across African borders.
She highlighted the ECOWAS Free Trade Regime, which has facilitated duty-free and quota-free movement of goods among member states since 1990, as a model that can support the successful implementation of AfCFTA.
According to her, stronger regional supply chains and harmonised standards are essential if African countries are to compete effectively and expand cross-border commerce.
“No country can industrialise alone,” she said, stressing the importance of regional cooperation in building resilient manufacturing and trade ecosystems.
Mrs. Ofosu-Adjare also emphasized the need for common standards on quality, packaging and certification, noting that tariff reductions alone are insufficient if regulatory barriers continue to hinder the movement of goods.
“Without common rules on quality, packaging and certification, goods cannot move freely even under AfCFTA’s zero-tariff regime,” she stated.
She further advocated the digitalisation of border processes to reduce delays, lower transaction costs and improve the efficiency of regional trade.
The minister urged participants to ensure that the Accra meeting delivers concrete outcomes rather than another set of recommendations.
“This shouldn’t be one of those meetings. We’ll come up with timelines and implementation targets, and Ghana will start implementation immediately to achieve the results West Africans deserve,” she said.
The meeting brought together trade and industry ministers, policymakers and regional stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening industrial development, boosting intra-regional trade and advancing economic integration across West Africa.
With ECOWAS targeting stronger implementation and Ghana pushing for value addition and regional manufacturing, policymakers believe the region has an opportunity to unlock greater economic growth through coordinated action and industrial cooperation.
