Partner and Head of Commercial Practice at Andersen, Nigeria, Chinedu Ezomike
As Africa eyes a new era of economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Chinedu Ezomike, Partner and Head of Commercial Practice at Andersen, Nigeria, has sounded a note of caution regarding gaps rooted in the continent’s payment and logistical systems.
According to him, Africa’s payment and transport systems are not keeping pace with its ambitious trade agenda.
Speaking at a webinar organised by LIMA Partners, Ezomike acknowledged the progress made through AfCFTA, particularly in areas like tariff reductions and customs reforms, but stressed that underdeveloped infrastructure continues to impede cross-border business operations.
“We know there are serious challenges in air movement. If I want to book a flight to another country on the continent, I often have to go through Europe before I can get to my destination. These issues are real, and it is time to address them,” he said.
He emphasised outdated financial infrastructure and limited air connectivity as key barriers stifling intra-African commerce.
Ezomike called for coordinated efforts to modernise cross-border payment platforms and improve intra-continental transport, urging policymakers and business leaders to match AfCFTA’s bold vision with equally bold action.
“Trade doesn’t just happen because we signed an agreement. It happens when the infrastructure, both digital and physical, allows it to flow,” he added.
SP/MA
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