Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur Juliet Ibrahim has advocated for greater inclusion of women in Africa’s economic transformation. She stressed that the continent cannot achieve meaningful prosperity if women are excluded from implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Speaking at the African Prosperity Dialogue in Accra, Ibrahim emphasised that women must play a central role in advancing trade, entrepreneurship, and the creative economy to ensure the success of the Single African Market.

She described women as critical drivers of innovation, cross-border trade, and economic resilience, noting that their contributions are essential to unlocking the full potential of AfCFTA.

Ibrahim urged policymakers and stakeholders to move beyond symbolic representation and position women as active architects of Africa’s economic future, rather than mere beneficiaries of trade policies.

She also highlighted the need for deliberate measures to eliminate barriers that limit women’s participation in cross-border trade and creative enterprises, stressing that inclusive policies are vital to achieving sustainable growth.

Her remarks aligned with the broader focus of the African Prosperity Dialogue, which seeks to translate AfCFTA from a policy framework into a practical tool for job creation, opportunity, and inclusive economic development.

Participants at the dialogue noted that Ibrahim’s intervention reinforced the importance of inclusivity in Africa’s prosperity agenda, emphasising that the promise of AfCFTA cannot be fully realised without the meaningful participation of women.

The event concluded yesterday, bringing together leaders from government, business, youth, and the creative sector, all united by a shared vision of building Africa’s future through collective effort and inclusive development.