The Chief Executive Officer of the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Mavis Owusu Gyamfi, has expressed concern over Africa’s lack of a coordinated response to global economic disruptions, particularly in the wake of tariff hikes initiated by the United States.
Speaking at the 2025 Citi Business Forum under the theme “The Global Tariffs Dispute: Navigating Ghana’s Recovery Strategy,” she highlighted that other regions, notably Asia, responded swiftly and strategically to the recent tariff increases announced by U.S. President Donald Trump
She questioned Africa’s lack of a unified and proactive stance in contrast to the Asian response, noting that despite not having a formal bloc like the African Union or a framework like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Asia was able to organise an effective strategy.
She expressed disappointment in Africa’s silence and lack of coordination in the face of rising global economic tensions. She urged the African continent to approach global economic shocks with a collective strategy rather than panicking.
“Where is our common voice? Remember, Asia is not a bloc. It doesn’t tout to be AU or AfCFTA or any of the things we are so proud about. It doesn’t do it. It doesn’t have a theoretical framework that it is proud of, but it had a structure for implementation in a crisis.
“The thing that disappointed me the most in all of this was that Africa forgot why we set up the AfCFTA in the first place. Africa forgot the processes we have in place for the African Union. In fact, Africa forgot we had the AFDB because it wasn’t until a week ago that I heard an AFDB on the tariffs,” she stated.
CBF: First forum on global tariff disputes and Ghana’s economic recovery to be held today
