Many a times our leaders in Africa agree on novelty ideas which in theory will transform the Continent and it’s people.
The unfortunate thing is that these ideas are drafted by Technocrats who have little or no practical experience on how these ideas will be implemented. Our political leaders are happy to sign onto these ideas because it gives them chorus to sing to their populace.
We had Vision 2020, the ECOWAS currency ECO just to mention a few. These policies were mentioned in every political speech given in Ghana some 10 to 15 years ago. What happened to Ghana attaining Middle Income Satus by 2020? What happened to ECOWAS countries having a single currency?
Just like the AfCFTA, the ECO office was first established in Ghana with all the celebration and resources given for this to work. As early as 2018, the ECOWAS heads of State said they will achieve single currency by 2020. What happened??
I am not a Thomas, but am a firm believer in don’t put the cart before the horse. The infrastructure needed to establish African free trade does not exist. One of the key index that AfCFTA seek to promote and improve is Informal Cross border Trade, ICBT. To achieve this there should be easy movement of people and goods.