AfCFTA Shifts Focus from Negotiations to Implementation, Says Secretariat

Accra, Ghana – The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has announced that the continent’s flagship trade agreement has entered a decisive new phase, with efforts now focused on translating years of negotiations into tangible economic benefits for businesses and citizens across Africa.

Speaking on the AfCFTA Podcast, the Director of Coordination and Programmes at the AfCFTA Secretariat, Dr. Tsotetsi Makong, said the groundwork for Africa’s single market has largely been completed and that attention must now turn to implementation.

Using a vivid analogy to describe the transition, Dr. Makong noted that the continent has spent years developing the legal and institutional framework for the Agreement and is now ready to begin realizing its benefits.

“We have been in the kitchen for the past four or five years. Now it’s time to get out of the kitchen and serve the meal,” he said.

Landmark Protocols Lay Foundation for Growth

Dr. Makong highlighted several milestones achieved during the negotiation phase, including the adoption of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade and the Protocol on Digital Trade, both of which are designed to address Africa’s unique development priorities.

According to him, these instruments position the AfCFTA as one of the most innovative trade agreements globally, reflecting the continent’s commitment to inclusive and future-oriented economic growth.

He stressed that implementation of the Agreement is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the Secretariat.

“Everybody has a role to play,” Dr. Makong stated, emphasizing the need for governments, regional economic communities, development finance institutions, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and development partners to contribute to the success of the AfCFTA.

Five-Year Strategy to Accelerate Implementation

To support the transition from policy to action, the AfCFTA Secretariat has adopted a comprehensive five-year implementation strategy aimed at strengthening the technical, institutional, regulatory, administrative, and infrastructural capacities of member states.

The strategy is expected to help countries address barriers to trade while enhancing their readiness to participate fully in the continental market.

More than 30 State Parties have already developed national implementation strategies, while National Implementation Committees are being established to coordinate activities and drive implementation at the country level.

Focus on Small Businesses, Women and Youth

A major priority for the Secretariat is ensuring that the benefits of the AfCFTA reach micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women and youth entrepreneurs who form a significant part of Africa’s economic landscape.

Dr. Makong explained that the Secretariat is working to simplify cross-border trade by reducing administrative barriers, increasing awareness of trading opportunities, strengthening regional value chains, and improving access to finance.

Rather than overwhelming businesses with technical trade language, the goal is to create practical solutions that make it easier for entrepreneurs to participate in intra-African trade.

He noted that the true success of the Agreement would be measured not by the number of protocols signed, but by the real-life impact on businesses and communities across the continent.

“It’s not just about rules. It’s about impact,” he said.

Partnership at the Heart of Implementation

The Director also highlighted the Secretariat’s collaborative approach to implementation, which is guided by what he described as the “4Cs” framework—co-conceptualizing, co-designing, co-creating, and co-delivering programmes alongside governments and development partners.

The approach is intended to ensure that implementation remains responsive to African priorities and delivers meaningful outcomes for member states.

Despite acknowledging the scale of the Secretariat’s mandate and its limited human resources, Dr. Makong expressed confidence that the strong political support demonstrated by African leaders will continue to drive progress.

AfCFTA Seen as Africa’s Economic Insurance Policy

Beyond trade, Dr. Makong described the AfCFTA as a strategic tool for strengthening Africa’s economic resilience amid growing global uncertainty.

“The only insurance policy that Africa has, economically speaking, is the AfCFTA,” he said.

He expressed optimism that successful implementation of the Agreement will increase intra-African trade, create employment opportunities, strengthen regional value chains, boost industrialization, and improve livelihoods across the continent.

As Africa moves from negotiating frameworks to delivering results, the AfCFTA Secretariat says the continent now faces a defining moment. With the legal architecture largely in place, the challenge ahead is ensuring that governments, businesses, and institutions work together to transform the vision of a single African market into a practical reality that benefits millions of people.