Accra: Mrs. Elizabeth Adjei, a former Ambassador to Spain, has called on African leaders to explore and establish new economic alliances to foster development and prosperity. She emphasized that in today’s rapidly changing global landscape, Africa can no longer depend on outdated economic agreements to achieve prosperity, labeling them as “no longer fit for purpose.”
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Adjei made these remarks during the inaugural African Diplomacy and Business Dialogue (AfDiB 2025) held in Accra. She highlighted the importance of considering new and emerging economic blocs that promise a stable and prosperous future for all. Mrs. Adjei expressed concern over the unilateral changes to global trade agreements by a few countries to benefit their populations, citing recent trade tariffs imposed by the new United States Administration on several countries, including those in Africa, which have disrupted longstanding trade agreements and economic alliances.
Mrs. Adjei stressed the need for Africa to move beyond relying on such trade agreements, advocating for the continent to establish new partnerships with emerging economic blocs like BRICS. She also mentioned the potential of initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific project and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in paving the way toward a stable and prosperous future.
The dialogue, organized by SALT University College, aimed to facilitate discussions and initiatives to support the realization of the AfCFTA vision. Under the theme “Harnessing African Diplomacy for the Success of AfCFTA,” the event brought together diplomats, business leaders, academics, and policymakers.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Agribusiness, expressed disappointment at the slow progress in fully realizing AfCFTA’s potential. In a speech read on her behalf, she highlighted AfCFTA’s enormous potential with a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion and a market size of 1.3 billion people. However, she pointed out that the agreement’s existence alone would not ensure success without the necessary steps being taken, such as harmonizing trade policies, regulations, infrastructure, and international trade partnerships.
Dr. Kodzo Alabo, President of SALT University College, emphasized the critical role of bold diplomatic engagements, innovative businesses, and uncompromising leadership in the success of AfCFTA. He warned that economic policy alone would not suffice and called for creating opportunities where ambassadors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academia could collaborate to build trust, cooperation, and shared prosperity across Africa.
Mr. Tsonam Akpeloo, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries, advocated for empowering African businesses to take the lead in diplomatic trade engagements with international partners, underscoring the importance of businesses in appreciating issues and negotiating effectively.
