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ECOWAS Officials Urged Trade Reform for Women

Business leaders should monitor potential policy changes aimed at reducing non-tariff barriers for women entrepreneurs.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in International Trade

Isometric editorial illustration featuring a brass key atop a wooden cargo crate, representing international trade policy reform.
ECOWAS officials and the AfCFTA Secretariat are pursuing reforms to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers, aiming to lower operational costs for women entrepreneurs across West Africa. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should governments enact specific policies to remove barriers for women in international trade?

Officials have called for the removal of barriers hindering women's participation in international trade within West Africa. These changes aim to improve access to finance and technology for women-led enterprises.

Why it matters

Reducing non-tariff barriers and simplifying customs procedures could lower operational costs and broaden market access for women entrepreneurs. Policy shifts are intended to create a more competitive environment for businesses across the region.

The National Gender Policy serves as a framework spanning 2025-2030, a five-year period set against prior strategic plans. The exact scope of regulatory changes remains under investigation.

The players

Agnes Naa Momo Lartey

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who oversees national development frameworks.

ECOWAS

A regional political and economic union of 15 countries in West Africa that sets trade policy.

ECOFEPA

The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, which focuses on promoting women in regional governance.

AfCFTA Secretariat

The administrative body responsible for coordinating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The details

Policymakers and the AfCFTA Secretariat are focusing on systemic hurdles such as complex customs procedures and high transportation costs that disproportionately affect women. The effort involves translating existing policy commitments into operational shifts, including enhanced access to digital technologies and capital. Stakeholders are working to coordinate these institutional changes to ensure they translate into tangible business growth.

Timeline

  1. Monday marked the start of the Second ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar and Extraordinary Session.

  2. Friday saw the ECOFEPA Executive Masterclass held in Accra.

  3. Saturday concluded the Second ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar and Extraordinary Session.

  4. The National Gender Policy framework is active from 2025-2030.

Market Landscape

This effort follows the pattern set by the African Continental Free Trade Area by pushing for the ratification of specific protocols that remove operational trade barriers. It sits within the regional push to harmonize customs procedures and simplify trade rules across West Africa.

Business owners should assess their current exposure to non-tariff trade barriers and track the ratification status of regional trade protocols. Monitoring these regulatory changes will be critical for businesses looking to optimize supply chain costs and market entry in the region.

The takeaway

The push to remove trade barriers underscores a growing focus on integrating more businesses into the regional economy. Operators should track the ratification of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade to identify shifts in customs procedures or digital trade requirements.

Further reading

For broader trends in regional market access, visit International Trade.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Ghanaian Times.

Live Poll

Should governments enact specific policies to remove barriers for women in international trade?