Odilia B. Gnassingbe-Essonam of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has called on governments, development partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to translate policy commitments on women’s inclusion in trade into practical actions that address the challenges faced by cross-border women traders.
She made the call at a stakeholder dialogue held at the Aflao Border in the Volta Region, bringing together members of the National Cross Border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA) from Elubo, Paga, Aflao, Akanu and Yameley, alongside officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division, the Ministry of Trade and other relevant institutions.
The engagement focused on challenges confronting small-scale cross-border traders and explored ways to improve trade facilitation, customs compliance and women’s participation in regional trade.
Gnassingbe-Essonam stressed that meaningful inclusion required more than discussions and policy declarations, emphasising the need for sustained collaboration, capacity building and practical support systems to help women benefit from regional trade opportunities.
The Director of Trade Facilitation at the Ministry of Trade, Alex Mensah, said policies to promote women’s participation in trade were already in place, but their success depended on effective implementation and collective responsibility among government institutions, traders, development partners and civil society organisations.
He noted that policies alone could not improve trading conditions without coordinated efforts from stakeholders, particularly those working directly with small-scale traders. He therefore urged development partners, including the ACBF, to support established traders’ associations with technical assistance, resources and capacity-building programmes to help translate policy commitments into tangible results.
Meanwhile, the National President of the NCBWTA, Lucky Rose Xenordzi, appealed for institutional support for the Association’s proposed Traders ID system and digital data collection platform, WATRDERSHUB.
She explained that the initiative seeks to improve the identification, registration and documentation of cross-border traders while generating reliable data to inform trade facilitation measures and policy decisions. According to her, inadequate information on small-scale traders often makes it difficult for institutions to design interventions that adequately respond to their needs.
Xenordzi said wider recognition and support for the digital initiative would improve traders’ visibility, strengthen communication with border authorities and facilitate access to relevant trade information. The proposal is intended to complement the objectives of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment, as well as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.
The proposed Traders ID system is an Association-led initiative and is not intended to replace national identity documents, customs declarations, permits or other official travel and trade documentation. Its implementation would require appropriate institutional collaboration and compliance with applicable data protection requirements.
The Aflao Sector Commander of Customs, Assistant Commissioner Emmanuel Duah, also called for greater attention to small-scale traders, acknowledging their contribution to government revenue through their trading activities.
He encouraged stronger cooperation between Customs authorities and organised traders’ associations to improve understanding of customs procedures, documentation requirements and compliance obligations. He urged the NCBWTA to intensify education and sensitisation programmes to help members avoid mistakes that could result in penalties and fines.
According to Duah, such financial losses can significantly affect small-scale traders by reducing their available capital, limiting their ability to replenish stock and undermining the sustainability of their businesses.
He stressed that continuous education on customs procedures would not only help traders comply with regulations but also support revenue mobilisation and promote a more transparent trading environment.
The dialogue highlighted the need to bridge the gap between policy development and implementation, particularly in border communities where women play an important role in small-scale commerce. Participants emphasised that improved access to trade information, stronger institutional engagement, effective trader education and appropriate digital tools could help address persistent challenges.
The discussions also underscored the importance of partnerships among government agencies, development organisations and traders’ associations in ensuring that women benefit meaningfully from regional trade integration.
For women trading along Ghana’s borders and across West African commercial corridors, the message from the Aflao engagement was clear: women’s inclusion in trade must move beyond dialogue to practical, measurable action. Achieving this will require coordinated institutional support, accessible information, improved compliance education and sustainable systems that enable women traders to operate with greater confidence and efficiency.