African entrepreneurs and small enterprise leaders must look beyond domestic borders and build resilient, cross-border businesses capable of competing across the continent, experts at the Liberty Sphere Conference 2026 have urged.
Speaking during a high-level panel titled “Building Africa’s Next Generation of Businesses: Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation under AfCFTA,” industry leaders examined how startups can practically leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to scale into regional markets.
The session featured Peter Adetor, Team Lead at the African Startups & SMEs in Export & Trade Secretariat; Nathaniel Dwamena, President of the YAFO Institute; and Ebenezer Yamusah, Chief Executive Officer of Calogeron Ghana Limited.
Opening the dialogue, speakers reflected on the long-standing structural bottlenecks that have historically stifled intra-African commerce.
Fragmented markets, high tariff regimes, non-tariff barriers, logistical bottlenecks, limited access to capital, and divergent customs procedures were highlighted as major obstacles confronting local businesses.
Against this backdrop, the AfCFTA framework offers a unified continental marketplace designed to dismantle these long-standing barriers.
Panelists guided delegates through the core architecture of the agreement, spanning protocols on trade in goods and services, dispute resolution, investment, intellectual property rights, competition, digital commerce, and targeted provisions for women and youth.
However, the discussion dispelled a common misconception among business owners that the agreement permits automatic, unchecked trade across African borders.
Preferential market access remains strictly contingent on regulatory compliance, particularly meeting established Rules of Origin.
For entrepreneurs, successful expansion requires a firm grasp of the specific legal and trade mechanics governing product movements rather than merely identifying potential buyers abroad.
Shifting from policy concepts to commercial execution, the panel explored high-growth sectors poised for expansion, including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, creative arts, and financial technology.
Special emphasis was placed on the fast-evolving digital economy.
Digital platforms, cross-border payment tools, online marketplaces, and tech-enabled services were identified as critical drivers for young entrepreneurs seeking to bypass traditional physical trade barriers.
To turn continental integration into tangible business growth, delegates were urged to utilise key implementation channels such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the Guided Trade Initiative, and official Rules of Origin diagnostic tools.
Addressing the operational demands of international trade, the panel outlined essential steps for business readiness, including formal registration, market research, product classification, trade documentation, and securing international logistics partners. Navigating target market regulations, quality standards, and duty structures early remains essential to avoiding costly delays.
Looking to the future, the experts stressed that continental trade agreements only create possibilities; actual economic growth depends on well-prepared, compliant businesses.
Emerging entrepreneurs were challenged to build ventures with a Pan-African strategy from inception, equipping themselves with the market intelligence and operational standards needed to thrive across African borders.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
