The Female Parliamentarians’ Association of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOFEPA) has called on women across the region to take advantage of regional and global trade opportunities by acquiring the skills, knowledge and technology required to compete in international markets.
The call was made at an Executive Masterclass on “Advancing Women’s Participation in Global Trade for Political Readiness and Export Opportunities in the ECOWAS Region”, held on the sidelines of the ECOWAS Parliament’s activities in Accra.
Speaking on behalf of ECOFEPA President, First Vice-President, Hon. Zainab Gimba, said women must move beyond being participants in economic activities to becoming key drivers of trade, investment and innovation.
“We must move beyond conversations about empowering women to creating the knowledge systems, networks and opportunities that enable women to compete successfully in local, regional and international markets,” she said.
Gimba stressed that women entrepreneurs across West Africa continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, market information, technology, business networks and decision-making spaces.
According to her, these barriers often prevent women-owned enterprises from transitioning into formal, competitive and export-oriented businesses.
She linked economic empowerment to political participation, arguing that successful women entrepreneurs gain the confidence, leadership experience and networks necessary to influence policies affecting trade, investment and economic development.
“We need women who are not only prepared to enter the marketplace but also prepared to sit at the tables where decisions about trade, investment, finance, industry and regional integration are made,” she said.
Gimba urged governments, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to provide accessible financing, improved trade infrastructure, reliable market information, mentorship opportunities and stronger support networks for women entrepreneurs.
She also encouraged women seeking to expand into export markets to acquire practical knowledge in standards, certification, packaging, branding, logistics, digital commerce, customs procedures and the requirements of international buyers.
She noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents significant opportunities for women-led businesses if they are adequately prepared.
Representing Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Legal Adviser Ms Nnali Bennis-Wallace acknowledged the important role women already play in the region’s economy as farmers, processors, manufacturers, traders, service providers, exporters and entrepreneurs.
However, she noted that many women-owned businesses remain concentrated in the informal sector due to difficulties in accessing finance, technology, market information, business networks and larger markets.
“We must move beyond seeing women primarily as beneficiaries of economic programmes to deliberately positioning them as producers, exporters, investors, innovators and decision-makers,” she said.
Bennis-Wallace said regional and continental trade frameworks offer opportunities for women entrepreneurs to expand their operations and participate more actively in intra-African and global trade.
She added that initiatives such as the masterclass provide women with practical tools and knowledge needed to move beyond local markets.
She highlighted Ghana’s National Gender Policy 2025-2034 as a framework for promoting women’s economic empowerment and participation in decision-making, while calling for stronger collaboration among governments, parliaments, financial institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector and women’s business associations.
The event concluded with calls for increased support for women-owned businesses, including improved access to finance, technology, market information and digital platforms, as well as policies aimed at strengthening women’s economic and political leadership across the ECOWAS region.
