Opinions

There’s a widespread view that the African Union – and its bureaucracy – are glorified servants of African governments. This view is supported by scholars and by the media.     But is it accurate? I address this question in a recent article as the organisation marks its 20th anniversary this year. The African…

Connectivity and mobility are key  in the AfCFTA’s implementation     The opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement are well-documented. This single continental market for goods and services would create the largest free trade area in the world by membership, boost intra-African trade and investment, increase…

A year after the official start of trading under the much-touted African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), commentators are saying it is already catching the African malaise — it is losing steam, African Business reported a few days ago.     Despite the “fantastic surprise speed” of progress in 2020,…

Until the 1990s, African countries did not attach importance to corporate governance policies and practices. In 1994, South Africa became the first African country to adopt a code of corporate governance and it was not until 2003 that the continent’s biggest economy (Nigeria) followed suit.   Corporate Governance is defined…

Focusing on increasing value-added trade is pivotal to levelling out the trade imbalance, with the Chinese market offering many opportunities for African brands.     Over the past few decades, it has become increasingly clear that ‘aid’ is not the answer to fast-tracking Africa’s development. Solving economic and social challenges…

There is little doubt that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is one of the golden keys to unlocking the continent’s long-term economic prosperity. The free trade area has been a long time in the making, and there are still considerable hurdles to overcome, not least of which is…

While the UK splinters away from the European Union, Africa is uniting under a landmark free trade agreement, making it one of the largest since the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO).     By creating a shared market between 54 [55] countries, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)…

If she is chosen to head the World Trade Organization, former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, an experienced development economist, would make a broken institution relevant again. She has the gravitas to build bridges between the US and China, on the one hand, and between the WTO and Africa, on…

With Africa reeling from multiple crises this year, the region’s governments will have to direct their policy responses not just toward short-term recovery, but also toward long-term sustainability and resilience. Africa simply cannot afford any more investments in the dirty, inefficient, fragile economy of the past.   The International Monetary…