Accra: Despite the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), women-led businesses across Africa are still facing significant challenges in accessing the benefits of the agreement, according to Pearl Nkrumah, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana. Nkrumah highlighted these concerns during the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues, emphasizing that structural barriers continue to impede cross-border participation for these enterprises.
According to Ghana Web, Ms. Nkrumah stressed that Africa's trade ambitions risk falling short unless deliberate systems are put in place to support traders who dominate informal and small-scale commerce, particularly women and young entrepreneurs. She noted that while AfCFTA aims to create a unified African market, its success will depend on the ability of small businesses to trade across borders, collaborate regionally, and access finance without excessive friction.
Ms. Nkrumah pointed out that unresolved payment settlement issues disproportionately affect women traders who do not have the financial buffers available to larger corporations. She explained that many African businesses still encounter delays and cost overruns because cross-border transactions often necessitate foreign currency settlement, weakening cash flow and discouraging market expansion.
Highlighting the need for a seamless currency movement system, Ms. Nkrumah advocated for initiatives like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) but stressed that stronger political will is necessary for effective implementation. She also underscored the importance of platforms that help women traders connect and integrate into regional value chains, moving beyond subsistence trading.
Access Bank has been working to facilitate this transition through its AccessAfrica platform, enabling efficient transactions across its African footprint, sometimes in local currency. The discussions at the event also covered women's leadership in Africa's economic future, featuring insights from senior officials from government, academia, business, and civil society.
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, highlighted the digital skills gap as a barrier to women's competitiveness in cross-border trade, while Patricia Poku Diaby, Executive Chair of Plot Enterprises, warned that weak regional integration keeps African producers in low-value trade. Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, called for government action to simplify border procedures and digitize customs systems, emphasizing that AfCFTA must deliver tangible benefits for women in business.