Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang says Africa’s economic future hinges on deeper regional integration, as it remains the key to unlocking sustainable growth and shared prosperity.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Africa Prosperity Dialogues, Professor Opoku- Agyemang opined that the success of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) depends on seamless connectivity, infrastructure development and policy alignment among member states.

She urged African leaders to prioritise investments that will break trade barriers, foster industrialisation and create a unified market capable of competing on a global scale.

”Africa’s fragmented market is a significant barrier to our economic potential. While our continent boasts of a population of 1.4 billion people,and a combined GDP of more than 3.4 trillion a significant part of the potential remains unfulfilled and will continue to do so if our markets remain divided. Integration is not just a theoretical concept it is a lifeline to our collective future ,”she said.

She added that: “By breaking down barriers and creating a single market. We can unlock immense opportunities, create jobs for our youth and We can also byso doing, lift millions out of poverty.”

Chairperson of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, also called on African leaders to maximize the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to spur economic growth and create a more competitive single market.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area is not an abstract policy framework. It is a generational mandate to unite our economies to facilitate trade, unlocking prosperity for all Africans. It is the key that will free us from the economic chains that have for too long ensured that Africa remains underdeveloped, “she added.

Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the event, MTN Ghana CEO, Stephen Blewett highlighted the critical role of digital payments in enhancing financial inclusion and enabling seamless trade across the continent.