Dr. Otokunor Advocates for Stronger Agricultural Trade Links
Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of the Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agribusiness, called for enhanced sub-regional integration to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential at the EU-Africa Chamber of Commerce’s Financing Agribusiness event in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on May 29, 2025.
Speaking at the Parc des Expositions, Otokunor criticized the fragmented regulatory environment hindering intra-African agricultural trade. He highlighted bureaucratic borders and policies that obstruct collaboration, despite the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aiming to create a unified market.
Otokunor shared his experience of a four-hour delay at the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire border, underscoring the challenges faced by farmers and agribusinesses in cross-border trade. He urged policymakers to reform trade policies to facilitate efficient agricultural commerce across African nations.
He advocated for instruments to support cooperatives and cross-border partnerships, warning that without such measures, Africa’s agricultural potential will remain unrealized. The event was attended by high-profile figures, including Inza Camara, Dr. Fumilayo H. Makanjuola, Joseph Nyemah, and Dr. Sidi Ould Tah.
Otokunor’s address emphasized the need for a cohesive framework to transform African agriculture from potential to impactful reality, aligning with broader goals to strengthen food security and economic growth through regional cooperation.