A senior trade official has warned that West Africa’s economic future depends on bringing women and young people out of the “shadows” of informal trade and into the global market.
Speaking at an ECOWAS parliamentary session in Abuja on Wednesday, Christopher Mensah-Yawson, a lead programme officer for trade development, said that while the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers historic opportunities, structural barriers are still blocking those who drive the region’s economy.
The stakes are high: the bloc serves a population of over 456 million people, with a median age of just 18.2 years.
The ‘Invisible’ Backbone of Trade
Mr. Mensah-Yawson highlighted a startling disparity in how trade currently functions across the 15-member bloc. While large-scale corporate trade dominates headlines, the reality on the ground is different:
- Women’s Role: Women account for an estimated 74% of informal cross-border traders in West Africa.
- Youth Reliance: Millions of people under the age of 25 rely entirely on informal markets for their livelihoods.
”The future of West Africa’s trade depends on making AfCFTA work for those historically excluded from formal markets,” Mr Mensah-Yawson told lawmakers.
Barriers at the Border
Despite the promise of a unified African market—a project covering 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion—informal traders face a gauntlet of challenges.
The official listed several “urgent” issues that require government reform:
- Harassment & Safety: Women traders frequently report extortion and security risks at border crossings.
- Infrastructure: A lack of gender-sensitive facilities and storage at borders forces traders to sell goods quickly at a loss.
- Left behind’: Call to unlock West Africa’s multi-billion dollar informal trade: “Cumbersome” customs procedures and a lack of access to formal banking keep small businesses trapped in the informal sector.
A Roadmap for Inclusion
To bridge this gap, ECOWAS is pushing a series of new initiatives, including a Trade and Gender Framework (2024–2030) and a regional e-commerce strategy. The goal is to “regularise” informal trade—moving it into the formal economy where workers have legal protections and better access to credit.
”Member states and lawmakers must intensify reforms to formalise trade and protect vulnerable traders,” Mr Mensah-Yawson added, noting that young people are “central to food security” in the region.
The week-long parliamentary seminar, which concludes this Saturday, is focused on ensuring the AfCFTA does not become a “big business only” agreement, but rather a catalyst for inclusive growth.
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