Freetown, Sierra Leone, 15 October 2025. At the Sierra Leone AfCFTA Conference held under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Accelerating Sierra Leone’s AfCFTA Implementation for Sustainable Economic Transformation,” H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, commended Sierra Leone for its exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to the AfCFTA agenda.

He highlighted Sierra Leone’s achievement as the first African Union Member State to complete an AfCFTA Readiness Assessment, describing it as a major step towards translating policy commitments into tangible economic outcomes.

H.E. Mene emphasised that the AfCFTA represents Africa’s most ambitious project for economic transformation, focused on building industrial capacity, boosting intra-African trade and positioning the continent as a global growth frontier. He underscored the importance of digital systems, infrastructure development, SME empowerment and inclusive trade, particularly for women and youth.

He also outlined flagship initiatives driving AfCFTA implementation, including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, the Trade Finance Facility and the Africa Trade Gateway, each designed to lower trade costs and enhance competitiveness across the continent.

Calling for greater policy coherence and political will, H.E. Mene urged African nations to take ownership of their economic future by shifting from dependence on external markets to building resilient regional value chains.

He concluded by affirming that Sierra Leone’s progress reflects the AfCFTA’s vision in action, moving decisively from policy to practice in pursuit of sustainable economic transformation across Africa.