Africa Must Prioritise Industrialisation as Global Trade Order Fractures – Sir Sam Jonah
Africa must urgently accelerate its industrialisation drive and deepen intra-African trade to withstand growing global economic disruptions, Chairman of the Africa Trade Chamber, Sir Sam Jonah, has said.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa Trade Summit 2026 in Accra, themed “Financing Africa’s Industrialisation: Developing Industrial Value Chains, Beneficiation, and Market Integration,” Sir Sam warned that the global rules-based trade order is giving way to a more hostile and fragmented system, where economic power is increasingly weaponised.
He noted that rising protectionism, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions and climate-related shocks are compounding Africa’s vulnerabilities, stressing that growth without industrial depth leaves the continent exposed to external shocks.
“For Africa, industrialisation is no longer a choice but a necessity. Without it, we remain price takers, exporting raw materials while others capture the value,” he stated.
Sir Sam criticised Africa’s long-standing dependence on raw commodity exports, arguing that the continent continues to lose value by exporting unprocessed minerals, agricultural produce and energy resources. He called for a decisive shift towards local beneficiation, manufacturing and value addition across key sectors.
He highlighted critical minerals, agro-processing and pharmaceuticals as strategic areas requiring urgent investment, noting that Africa’s role in the global green transition remains limited to raw material supply, while manufacturing and technology development take place elsewhere.
Touching on intra-African trade, Sir Sam described the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as Africa’s most powerful tool in the new global order, but warned that slow implementation risks undermining its potential benefits.
“The AfCFTA must move from aspiration to execution. Harmonising standards, reducing border frictions and building cross-border infrastructure are no longer optional,” he said.
According to him, a fully implemented AfCFTA would create scale, attract long-term investment and strengthen Africa’s bargaining power globally, while reducing dependence on external markets.
He further called for Africa to adopt a more assertive, interest-driven trade posture, urging governments to negotiate partnerships that prioritise domestic industrial capacity, job creation and technology transfer.
Sir Sam also underscored the need for patient capital and innovative financing structures to support industrial projects, particularly those involving small and medium-sized enterprises, women and youth.
The Africa Trade Summit 2026 brings together policymakers, investors, industry leaders and development partners to chart practical pathways for financing industrial value chains and strengthening Africa’s market integration over the next two days.
