AfCFTA Accelerates Digital Customs Reforms to Unlock Faster Intra-African Trade

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is advancing a series of digital and administrative reforms aimed at modernising customs operations across Africa, as officials seek to eliminate longstanding barriers that continue to slow the movement of goods across borders.

Speaking on the AfCFTA’s official podcast, the Director of Customs Administration at the AfCFTA Secretariat, Demitta Gyang, underscored the critical role customs authorities play in delivering the objectives of the continent’s single market.

According to her, nearly 95 percent of the provisions governing trade in goods under the AfCFTA depend on customs administrations for implementation.

“About 95 percent of what we are doing under trade in goods rests on customs administrations,” Ms. Gyang said. “From the application of tariff concessions to the verification of rules of origin, customs officers are at the centre of implementation.”

From Negotiation to Implementation

Ms. Gyang disclosed that more than 5,800 Certificates of Origin have already been issued under the AfCFTA trading regime, describing the achievement as a clear sign that the agreement is moving beyond policy discussions into practical execution.

“The issuance of over 5,800 certificates of origin demonstrates that AfCFTA is no longer just an agreement on paper,” she said. “We are now seeing businesses actively trading under the framework.”

She explained that the Secretariat is not seeking to replace national customs systems but rather to ensure they can communicate effectively with one another.

“Our objective is not to overhaul existing systems,” she noted. “Whether a country uses ASYCUDA, UNIPASS or a home-grown platform, we want these systems to speak to each other through common standards and interfaces.”

According to her, approximately 36 African countries currently operate versions of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), while others have developed their own customs management platforms.

Digital Solutions for Seamless Trade

To facilitate trade and reduce costs, the Secretariat has introduced several digital tools, including an electronic tariff book developed in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO).

“The e-tariff book allows traders to determine the applicable tariff and confirm the rules of origin before goods are exported,” Ms. Gyang explained. “This improves predictability and reduces uncertainty for businesses.”

She added that the electronic Certificate of Origin platform is expected to significantly reduce paperwork and speed up cross-border clearance.

“Instead of relying on paper documents, certification can now move electronically from the exporting country to the importing country through a central AfCFTA platform,” she said. “This cuts processing time, reduces costs and improves efficiency.”

The Secretariat is also developing a Single Bond Guarantee Scheme to simplify transit trade across multiple countries.

“Today, a trader may need to secure separate bonds in every country along a transit corridor,” she explained. “That requirement can leave trucks stranded because operators do not have sufficient funds. A single bond system will address that challenge.”

Border Delays Remain a Major Obstacle

Despite the progress, Ms. Gyang acknowledged that numerous bottlenecks continue to undermine trade efficiency across the continent.

Through corridor assessments conducted along major trade routes, including the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and the Mombasa-DRC corridor, the Secretariat identified several recurring challenges.

“The issues are multifaceted,” she said. “They range from poor physical infrastructure and disconnected digital systems to inadequate training and weak coordination among border agencies.”

She cited instances where border posts lacking electricity are forced to shut down at sunset.

“If a truck arrives after closing hours, it has no option but to wait until the next day,” she said. “That creates delays and increases the cost of doing business.”

Ms. Gyang also highlighted inconsistencies in border operating hours between neighbouring countries.

“In some cases, countries sharing a border do not operate the same opening and closing times,” she explained. “Even a one-hour difference can result in trucks being delayed for an entire day.”

Another concern is the proliferation of checkpoints along major trade corridors.

“On some routes between Tema and Paga, there can be more than 60 checkpoints,” she revealed. “Each stop contributes to delays and increases transport costs.”

Language barriers also continue to affect border operations.

“You may have English-language documentation presented to a French-speaking customs officer,” she noted. “In some situations, the parties must wait for translation before processing can continue.”

To address the problem, the Secretariat is exploring multilingual training programmes and encouraging the use of common local languages spoken on both sides of borders.

Trade Facilitation and Revenue Collection Can Coexist

Addressing concerns that faster customs procedures could reduce government revenue, Ms. Gyang argued that trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation are mutually reinforcing.

“There is a perception that customs must choose between collecting revenue and facilitating trade, but that is not the case,” she said.

Drawing on the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, she explained that delays at borders ultimately undermine revenue collection.

“A truck parked at the border generates no revenue,” she stated. “When goods move faster and procedures are simplified, trade volumes increase and revenue collection improves.”

She added that many customs administrations are increasingly relying on risk management systems and trader databases to target inspections more effectively.

“Not every shipment needs to be subjected to the same level of scrutiny,” she said. “Risk-based approaches allow customs administrations to focus resources where they are most needed.”

Strengthening Customs Capacity

The Secretariat has also intensified efforts to build the capacity of customs officers across Africa.

According to Ms. Gyang, training programmes launched in 2024 were informed by assessments conducted with national customs administrations and delivered across the continent’s five regions.

“We identified the specific needs of customs administrations and designed programmes to address those gaps,” she said.

The Secretariat plans to deliver approximately eight capacity-building initiatives in 2026 through a combination of virtual and in-person sessions.

“We are also working with regional customs training centres and institutes to integrate AfCFTA content into their regular curricula,” she added.

The Secretariat continues to collaborate with the World Customs Organization on technical support initiatives, including harmonised system migration and benchmarking of the AfCFTA electronic Certificate of Origin data model.

As implementation gathers momentum, Ms. Gyang believes modern, connected and efficient customs administrations will be crucial to unlocking the full benefits of Africa’s single market.

“Customs administrations are not just border agencies,” she said. “They are key enablers of Africa’s economic integration and development.”