The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat today hosted Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), for a farewell visit and a landmark public lecture that celebrated a decade of transformative partnership between the two institutions.
The event, held at the AfCFTA headquarters in Accra, marked a pivotal moment in Africa’s economic integration journey. It was both a tribute to Prof. Oramah’s leadership and a reaffirmation of the shared vision of a united African market.
A Partnership that Shaped Integration
Welcoming Prof. Oramah, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of AfCFTA, reflected on the critical role Afreximbank has played since the inception of the trade bloc.
“On my very first day as Secretary-General, I said my first call would be to Afreximbank because I knew the AfCFTA could not succeed without this partnership,” Mene said. “Five years on, that truth stands undeniable.”
Under Oramah’s leadership, Afreximbank has been instrumental in turning AfCFTA’s ambitious vision into reality — from helping establish the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to launching the Adjustment Fund that supports member states in navigating the transition to a single continental market.
Finance as the Engine of Integration
In a keynote lecture that combined reflection with a call to action, Prof. Oramah highlighted the central role of finance in advancing Africa’s integration.
“Finance has been the lifeblood of Africa’s integration,” he said. “By aligning capital with policy, we have shown that Africa can take its destiny into its own hands.”
He pointed to tangible milestones — including the negotiation of key AfCFTA protocols, the creation of financial instruments like PAPSS, and the mobilization of billions of dollars for industrialization — as proof that once-distant aspirations are now shaping Africa’s economic landscape.
“When the history of Africa’s economic development is written,” Oramah noted, “it will record this moment as the time when diplomacy and African finance merged to define a new path.”
A Legacy for the Future
In a heartfelt note of gratitude, the AfCFTA Secretariat lauded Prof. Oramah’s contributions not just as an institutional leader but as a visionary whose belief in Africa’s potential helped steer the continent toward deeper integration.
“Prof. Oramah’s leadership has gone beyond building an institution,” said Mene. “He has helped shape the direction of Africa’s future.”
Passing the Torch
The farewell in Accra was less a conclusion and more a transition, as leaders from both institutions expressed confidence that the foundation laid by Oramah would continue to guide Africa’s economic transformation.
The ceremony underscored that the journey toward a unified African market is far from over. The structures and partnerships forged under Oramah’s tenure now serve as stepping stones for the next phase of integration.
“The torch he carried with conviction now lights the road ahead,” said one AfCFTA official. “The groundwork is firm. The momentum is strong. The journey of Africa’s integration moves forward with renewed purpose.”
About AfCFTA:
The African Continental Free Trade Area is the world’s largest free trade area by membership, bringing together 54 African countries to create a single market for goods and services.
About Afreximbank:
Founded in 1993, the African Export-Import Bank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution focused on financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade.
