Ministry of Trade And Industry Launches AfCFTA Capacity Building Workshop for National Implementation Committee Members And Its Technical Staff
By Abdul Rahman Bah
Ministry of Trade on Tuesday 10th June 2025, officially launched a four-day capacity-building workshop for its AfCFTA National Implementation Committee at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. The event was organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), with the aim of strengthening the country’s readiness to implement the landmark trade agreement and support private sector participation in continental trade. Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director of the National Investment Board and Chair of the Implementation Committee, opened the workshop with a strong call for enhanced intra-African trade. He noted that Africa currently accounts for only 15 percent of internal trade and a mere 3 percent of global trade, highlighting the urgent need for member states to maximize the opportunities presented by AfCFTA. Dr. Sandy emphasized that Sierra Leone must take a coordinated national approach, engaging key institutions such as the Customs Department, the Standards Bureau, and agencies supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, in order to benefit fully from the trade framework. He underscored that while AfCFTA addresses tariff barriers, countries must also work hard to eliminate non-tariff barriers such as bureaucratic hurdles and logistical inefficiencies. The implementation committee is tasked with not only building capacity but also guiding the private sector to participate in the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. Dr. Sandy expressed optimism that Sierra Leonean businesses are increasingly ready to take part and compete under the new system. Also addressing the gathering, Ms. Seraphine Wakana, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the country’s AfCFTA journey. She noted that the agreement is more than a trade pact—it is a strategic tool for economic transformation across Africa. With its goal of unifying over 50 fragmented markets into a single market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of more than \$3 trillion, AfCFTA is expected to significantly boost Africa’s competitiveness and regional value chains. Ms. Wakana praised Sierra Leone’s early adoption of the agreement, including its 2019 ratification and the development of a national trade strategy in 2021. She welcomed the formation of the National Implementation Committee and announced that, with support from UNECA, Sierra Leone will soon develop a country-specific AfCFTA training guide and an online trade information portal to empower stakeholders with clear and accessible information on trade procedures. She emphasized that implementation success hinges on institutional coordination, legal and technical knowledge, and stakeholder synergy. Over the next four days, participants will receive in-depth training on AfCFTA protocols, including rules of origin and trade facilitation, with the goal of equipping them not just as implementers but also as future trainers in their respective institutions. As the workshop continues, it marks a critical step forward in aligning Sierra Leone’s national development strategy with continental integration goals. The strong representation of government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors underlines the shared commitment to using AfCFTA as a driver for sustainable economic diversification, and inclusive trade development across the country. Mr. Abdul Kamara, Regional Trade Advisor for West Africa at the AfCFTA Secretariat, emphasized the importance of long-term planning for Africa’s development, recalling the vision of early African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah who advocated for continental unity and integration. He noted that intra-African trade remains low, under 15%, and urged the need for stronger policies, infrastructure, and value addition to raw materials to drive industrialization. Kamara called for the creation of a single African market to ease movement of goods and services, reduce trade barriers, and foster competitiveness. Mr. Mark Tamba Nuyma, Deputy Director of Foreign Trade and Regional Integration at thev Ministry of Trade and Industry, highlighted Sierra Leone’s efforts in aligning withv AfCFTA goals. He pointed to thev establishment of a National Implementation Committee and the completion of av national AfCFTA assessment as signs of progress. Nuyma stressed the importance of job creation, service sector development, andf national capacity building to ensure meaningful participation in the continental free trade framework.
