Interior Minister, Hon Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, says safe and efficient borders are vital for Africa’s economic integration and the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He made the remarks during the SME Scale-Up Dialogue on the second day of the Africa Prosperity Dialogue (APD) 2026, held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC)on Thursday, 5th February 2026.
APD 2026, which runs from 4th to 6th February, convened under the theme “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate. Collaborate. Trade.” The dialogue brought together heads of state, business leaders, innovators, and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for boosting intra-African trade, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.
The Minister highlighted that the AfCFTA, Africa’s most ambitious economic integration initiative, has the potential to unlock trillions of dollars in value, create millions of jobs, and expand economic opportunities for the continent’s women, youth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, he warned that persistent security, governance, and border management challenges could undermine these gains.
“Without security, trade cannot flourish; without orderly mobility, integration cannot succeed,” Hon. Muntaka said. “A free flow of traders and goods should not compromise national and regional security. We must apply smart, coordinated, and technology-driven approaches to facilitate trade while ensuring safety and trust across the continent.”
The Minister noted that while Ghana had 48 official crossing points, over 250 unapproved routes are frequently used, sometimes posing serious security risks. He cited instances of child trafficking and other illicit activities to underline the need for intelligence-led, risk-based border management.
Since November 2025, Ghana has implemented measures to integrate travel and border data, enabling authorities to track passengers and goods in real time. Hon. Muntaka revealed that these systems are being expanded across land, sea, and air ports to ensure targeted monitoring of persons of interest without impeding legitimate trade.
The Minister also identified non-tariff barriers, harassment of traders, and fragmented enforcement as major obstacles for SMEs, particularly those led by women and youth. He called for harmonized procedures, grievance mechanisms, and capacity building for border officials to streamline trade while maintaining vigilance.
Hon. Muntaka highlighted lessons from the ECOWAS free movement protocol, which has facilitated visa-free travel across West Africa, labour mobility, and regional trade. He stressed the need to expand these successes into a continental customs and trade union under the AfCFTA framework, emphasising harmonized standards, mutual recognition, and integrated border management.
The Minister proposed a common, interoperable African Union biometric identity system to support “smart borders.” Linking national digital IDs with continental standards would allow real-time verification, risk profiling, and efficient processing of travellers and goods.
“To succeed, Africa must move beyond fragmented regional arrangements toward a coherent continental framework where security, mobility, and economic opportunity advance together,” he stated. “We must manage movement intelligently, ensuring that free trade empowers citizens without compromising safety.”
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