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Africa’s Trade Requires More Than Policy - OpEd by Seyi Kumpayi Africa has never been closer to the economic integration it has long envisioned. With the African Continental Free Trade Area now in place, the continent has the policy framework to build one of the largest single markets in the world. But as Seyi Kumapayi argues in this Op-Ed, the real test lies not in the ambition of the framework, but in the systems, infrastructure and financing that must bring it to life. As discussions at the Africa Trade Conference 2026 hosted by Access Bank Plc made clear, trade does not accelerate simply because agreements exist. It accelerates when roads, ports, logistics corridors and cross-border payment systems function effectively. For Africa, closing the gap between continental aspiration and ground-level execution requires governments, financial institutions and businesses to operate in alignment, not in isolation. For investors and policymakers tracking African trade, the signals to watch are not in the agreement itself but in the infrastructure investments, trade finance flows, and business ecosystems that will determine whether AfCFTA delivers on its extraordinary promise. The task now is to build the systems that will make that vision real. Cc: @theaccesscorp, @myaccessbank, @AfCFTA, @AfCFTANG Read more: proshare.co/articles/africas…