By African View – Written for the people, by the people
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the most ambitious projects the African Union has ever undertaken. Officially launched in January 2021, it aims to bring together 54 African countries into a single market with a population of over 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of more than $3.4 trillion.
But what does this agreement really mean for ordinary Africans from the market woman in Accra to the young tech entrepreneur in Nairobi?
AfCFTA is expected to create millions of jobs by boosting industrialization and encouraging cross-border trade. As tariffs drop and markets open up, African businesses both small and large can reach more customers across the continent. This means more job openings and better chances for youth and women to enter the formal economy.
“With AfCFTA, I now sell my handmade jewelry in Kigali and Nairobi from my shop in Lusaka,” says Linda Mwansa, a young Zambian businesswoman. “Before, customs were too expensive. Now, I have more customers and better profit.”
For too long, African countries have traded more with Europe, Asia, and the Americas than with each other. AfCFTA shifts the focus back to the continent. It means more made-in-Africa goods in our shops, more African-designed clothing, African-grown food, and African-developed software.
This could reduce the continent’s dependence on imports and allow Africans to take pride in their own industries.
When countries trade freely, goods move more easily across borders. That can reduce costs — for producers and buyers. Eventually, everyday Africans could see lower prices on food, clothing, and even mobile phones.
Imagine Ethiopian coffee being more affordable in Nigeria, or Ghanaian cocoa products in South Africa, without the added cost of high tariffs.
Most businesses in Africa are small or medium-sized, and many operate informally. AfCFTA includes support for these businesses, helping them understand new rules, access funding, and meet product standards so they can compete fairly and safely across borders.
For many young entrepreneurs, this is a chance to grow beyond their hometown or country.
It is noted that, AfCFTA won’t solve all problems overnight. There are challenges from poor infrastructure to corruption and political instability. There’s also a need for greater awareness and education, so that even rural farmers and artisans can benefit from the agreement.
Still, AfCFTA offers a bold vision: an Africa trading with itself, united by shared purpose and mutual prosperity.
AfCFTA is more than an economic deal, it’s a symbol of African unity. It brings African’s closer to Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of a continent where borders don’t divide, but connect.
As we move forward, the real success of AfCFTA will depend on how well it improves the daily lives of ordinary Africans. With the right policies, the right support, and the right spirit, the dream of a prosperous, interconnected Africa is within reach.
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