Ntim Afriyie

16/02/2026

As a follow-up to my immediate previous article, I double down with a case study showing how collaboration at the production level and industry level accelerates regional trade as a complement to policy.

Here, I share the story of two more diasporans seeking to bridge the energy gap in Sierra Leone while also looking at Africa as their potential market.

Lastly, I also discuss how the Sierra Leone government can leverage this great opportunity to meet its energy goals.

Read here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/charcoal-answer-sierra-leones-energy-crisis-ntim-afriyie-h9w7f

Thank you Nyakeh Charley & Dr. Jean-Marc J. Ndame / Anesthetist, DNP, CRNA, FNP-C for the great collaboration.

The Story of how two Diasporans Look to Transform the Charcoal Industry in Sierra Leone and West Africa. Introduction From the land of the Lion Mountains — the home of the free, Sierra Leone — in West Africa, to the rivers of prawns in Cameroon, Central Africa, comes a monumental collaboration b...

09/02/2026

In 2023, intra-African trade reached US$192.2 billion, a modest 3.2% increase from the previous year. However, this figure represents only 14.9% of Africa’s total trade—an indicator of how limited internal economic integration remains.

For context, EU-27 intra-trade sits at around 60% of its total trade, while RCEP (Asia-Pacific) records approximately 44%.

These comparisons underscore a structural challenge: Africa trades more with external partners than with itself, despite having the raw potential for strong internal markets.

To meaningfully accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), I argue that collaboration at the industry level—rather than policy alone—must serve as the primary catalyst for truly open borders. Such collaboration is central to unlocking value chains, driving competitiveness, and advancing Africa’s long-term industrialisation agenda.

Read the full article here.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/afcfta-collaboration-must-precede-trade-africas-single-ntim-afriyie-j2eef