CERPA: Finance, Data Must Drive AfCFTA For Women, Youth, And SMEs
The Centre for Economic Research and Policy Analysis (CERPA) has urged a major rethink of Africa’s financial and data systems to ensure women, youth, and small businesses benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
CERPA Executive Director Ebenezer Amankwah-Minkah said this during a panel titled “Opening the Gates: How finance and data are powering women, youth and SMEs in Africa’s single market” in Accra on Wednesday February 4.
Rethinking SME Financing
On closing the financing gap for women-led, youth-led, and SME businesses, Mr. Amankwah-Minkah said Africa cannot rely solely on traditional bank credit.
“If we rely solely on the same traditional tools — collateral, balance sheets, and credit histories — we will continue financing only a fraction of Africa’s real economy,” he said.
“Millions of women, youth, and SMEs are already engaging in cross-border trade and generating income, but because their activity sits outside formal banking systems, it remains invisible to finance. This disconnect limits inclusive participation under AfCFTA and these entrepreneurs remain unsupported.”
