The Ghanaian Women in Trade with AfCFTA (GWITA) has been officially launched as a platform to champion the role of women in Africa’s trade transformation.
The group aims to build industrial-scale businesses, promote value addition, and advocate for gender-sensitive trade policies under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
GWITA President, Linda Kafui Adzah, explained that the organization was founded in 2024 by a group of dedicated women and is now formally registered in Ghana. Founding members include Doris Abra Adoboe, Lucy Akorfa Yawa Afari, Sylvia Ama Sitsofe Demenya, and Agnes Mawusi Nkansah.
GWITA’s vision is to become Africa’s leading women’s trade organization, empowering women entrepreneurs to compete globally. Its mission focuses on education, capacity building, trade promotion, and policy advocacy.
Speaking at the virtual launch, Dr. Fareed Arthur, Executive Director of the Inter-African Trade Capacity Center and former AfCFTA National Coordinator, praised the formation of GWITA as a timely and strategic move. “Initiatives like this are exactly what AfCFTA needs—women-led platforms ready to scale, industrialize, and take full advantage of the continental market,” he said.
He emphasized the need for women in trade to move beyond small-scale operations and form strong partnerships that can compete regionally and globally. “We cannot conquer the African market with a few kilos of shea butter. We need to think big, manufacture, add value, and operate at scale.”
Dr. Arthur called on GWITA members to play a more active role in shaping trade policies, moving away from the traditional tendency to leave policy decisions to government. “Women have the numbers, the expertise, and the energy. You must push for policies that enable your success,” he noted.
He also urged the group to rethink sustainability, including the need to consider financing models such as dues and contributions to fund research, operations, and strategic outreach. “This is not an NGO. This is business. And business needs capital and structure.”
Also addressing the launch was Mrs. Nelly Spio-Abaidoo, Head of the Handicraft and Industrial Art Department at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), who highlighted the key role women play in Ghana’s trade landscape, particularly in agribusiness, textiles, cosmetics, and food processing.
“Despite their significant contributions, many women remain invisible in formal trade structures due to lack of registration, financing constraints, and complex export processes,” she said.
Mrs. Spio-Abaidoo outlined GEPA’s support for women-owned SMEs, including tailored training, market access facilitation, and partnerships with global initiatives like SheTrades. “Empowering women in trade is not just right—it’s smart economics,” she added.
Both speakers encouraged GWITA members to build viable, export-ready enterprises and push for inclusive policies that reflect women’s needs and ambitions in the AfCFTA era.
