Africa’s quest for a single market requires prioritizing infrastructure development to facilitate trade, economic growth, and transformation.
According to Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of Ghana, the continent’s single market can only be achieved by addressing the significant barriers hindering its realization.
Women, who dominate cross-border businesses, face cumbersome regulations and inadequate infrastructure, emphasizing the need for inclusive and representative policies. Removing these impediments is not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity.
Speaking at the Africa Prosperity Dialogue 2025, she emphasized that Infrastructure development is critical, with a focus on transportation, energy systems, and the movement of goods and services. Research from the World Bank highlights the lack of interconnectedness across Africa’s infrastructure networks, caused by a fragmented approach to policy.
“Power remains the continent’s most pressing infrastructure gap, with over 30 countries experiencing frequent power outages. To address this, stronger partnerships between the government and private sector are necessary.”
Ghana has made significant strides in infrastructure development, including modernizing its ports, expanding roads and railway networks, and investing in energy infrastructure. However, more needs to be done across the continent to achieve Africa’s single market goal.
She added that, digital infrastructure is also crucial, with mobile technology revolutionizing financial inclusion through services like mobile money platforms. As Africa celebrates its achievements, it must recognize that much more remains to be done to unlock its full potential.
Source: Bernard K Dadzie; Greater Accra Region
