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The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has announced a US$5.17 billion Digital Trade Corridor aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure and facilitating intra-African commerce.
The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 Elevate Africa Convening, scheduled for October in Accra, Ghana, where African leaders, policymakers and investors are expected to discuss the continent’s economic integration and development agenda.
The Convening will be held under the theme “Africa: Defining Her Future.”
The timing comes as African countries seek to move beyond establishing the AfCFTA framework towards developing functioning markets, regional production networks and greater opportunities for African businesses.
A World Bank report released in August also called for a shift from trade links towards regional production hubs, setting the stage for discussions on deeper regional economic cooperation.
“Africa is moving into a new phase. The conversation is increasingly shifting from what the continent could become to how we build the systems, institutions and partnerships that will make that future possible,” said Joy Godwin, Elevate Africa’s Convening Project Lead.
Godwin said Accra would provide a platform for discussions on the continent’s economic future, noting that Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat.
He also pointed to President John Dramani Mahama’s recently announced “Accra Reset”, which calls for greater economic self-reliance, resource sovereignty and local value creation.
“This Convening brings together the leaders, builders and changemakers who can help turn that ambition into action,” Godwin said.
The Elevate Africa Convening is expected to bring together African Heads of State, ministers, traditional rulers, policymakers, youth leaders, creatives, investors, civil society representatives and members of the diaspora.
The programme will focus on four areas: trade governance and economic integration; governance, policy and advocacy; youth and the creative economy; and the diaspora.
The trade governance and economic integration discussions will examine the implementation of AfCFTA, intra-African investment, digital trade, trade finance and resource governance.
According to the programme outline, intra-African trade exceeded $220 billion in 2024, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening regional value chains and retaining more of the value generated from Africa’s resources, production and markets within the continent.
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The governance, policy and advocacy pillar will examine institutions and leadership needed to translate continental ambitions into practical outcomes, including democratic resilience, accountability and youth representation.
The youth and creative economy pillar will examine the growing role of Africa’s creative industries, including film, music, fashion, gaming and digital content, with discussions expected to focus on financing, intellectual property and market access.
The Convening will also feature “Threads of Africa,” an Elevate Africa initiative incorporating fashion film awards and showcasing African textile heritage, fashion, film and storytelling.
The diaspora pillar will examine how Africa can leverage the capital, expertise, networks and cultural influence of its global community beyond remittances, including through investment and talent development.
The organisers said the Convening is expected to produce the Accra Declaration, as well as strategic partnerships, investment commitments and cross-sector collaborations.
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