African integration discussed by delegates in Accra

Accra, Ghana – Delegates from universities across 17 African nations have gathered in Accra for the fourth International Annual Conference of the Harakati Za Muungano Union for development and freedom. The event aims to foster dialogue on critical issues facing the continent, including economic restructuring, political reforms, and integration for sustainable development.

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Africa with a Gross Domestic Product of US$3 trillion of the world’s US$105 trillion and three per cent share of global trade according to a 2023 World Bank report, the continent must do more to increase its trade capacity, taking advantage of the AfCTA.

Participants from countries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo are attending the conference. The central theme underscores the urgency for young leaders to work towards dismantling physical colonial borders and trade barriers that hinder progress.

Kwame Danquah, President of the International Secretariat of Harakati, highlighted the pressing need for Africa to collapse its internal borders in the evolving global landscape of trade and commerce. He pointed out that Africa's current Gross Domestic Product of US$3 trillion represents a small fraction of the world's US$105 trillion, with only a three percent share of global trade, according to a 2023 World Bank report. Danquah stressed that the continent must significantly increase its trade capacity, particularly by capitalizing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).

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Due to the fact that Africa does the bulk of its trade with the outside world and the exports are heavily concentrated on primary commodities, the continent continues to be vulnerable to external macro economic shocks and protectionist trade policies.

This call for greater integration is supported by an African Union report indicating that intra-African trade stands at a mere 15 percent, starkly contrasting with Europe's 60 percent and Asia's 40 percent intra-regional trade. Danquah explained that Africa's heavy reliance on external trade and the concentration of exports on primary commodities leave the continent vulnerable to global economic shocks and protectionist policies. He noted that past crises, not of Africa's making, have adversely impacted economic performance due to fragmentation, weak structures, and low industrialization.

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Past global economic and financial crisis which were not of Africa’s making, did adversely impact on the continent’s economic performance because of Africa’s fragmentation, weak structures and low levels of industrialization.

With Africa's population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, Danquah warned of a potential demographic trap leading to increased macroeconomic pressures. However, he also framed this population boom as an opportunity, provided structural and systematic reforms address issues of instability, poverty, disease, underdevelopment, and unemployment. Removing artificial barriers is crucial to increasing trade volumes and developing a skilled workforce to meet the demands of a growing population. Danquah urged the delegates, who are being prepared for future leadership roles, to internalize these expectations as they prepare to assume responsibility.

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With Africa’s population projected to hit 2.5 billion in 2050, the continent could slip into a demographic trap with increased macroeconomic pressures on urbanisation, education, housing, health, and jobs amongst others.