Ayorkor Botchwey Pushes for Stronger Africa-Caribbean Trade Ties—No More Middlemen!—The Commonwealth Secretary General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has issued a bold call to African governments: bridge the trade gap with the Caribbean or risk missing out on a multi-million-dollar opportunity.
Speaking at the Leadership Conversation 2025 event organized by the University of Gold Coast, she noted the lack of direct air and maritime links between the two regions as a major barrier to trade. Despite the relatively short travel time, just five to six hours by air, businesses are forced to route trade through Europe and the Americas, inflating costs and discouraging commerce.
“If you take between Caribbean and Africa, it is just the Atlantic that separates us. There is so much we can do together, yet there are no air links and no maritime links”, she said.
Botchwey maintained that establishing direct trade routes would create multi-million-dollar opportunities, allowing African nations to tap into the Caribbean’s demand for various goods readily available on the continent. She stressed that under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), African nations must work collectively to expand trade beyond the continent.
Infrastructure investment is critical to making AfCFTA a success, she noted, urging African leaders to develop rail, road, maritime, and air transport networks that facilitate seamless trade.
“Without efficient transport infrastructure, the benefits of AfCFTA will remain theoretical,” she cautioned, underscoring the need for bold investments in logistics to fully realize Africa’s trade potential with the Caribbean and beyond.
Last Updated on April 1, 2025 by Senel Media
