An expert in industrialization and supply chain management, Professor Douglas Boateng, has emphasized the necessity for African nations to develop the complete value chain of products and services within the continent to ensure the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative.
He described this process as “strategic sourcing,” advocating for a shift away from importing “cheap products” from overseas to instead enhancing the value of local produce. This, he explained, would foster a competitive edge and diminish reliance on foreign goods.
Prof. Boateng delivered these remarks during an inaugural lecture series organized in collaboration with the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), under the theme: “Engineering, Industrialisation, AfCFTA, and Strategic Sourcing: The Inextricable Links.”
In order to enhance the value chain comprehensively, from production to consumption, he highlighted the necessity for Africans to refrain from exporting the continent’s natural resources in their raw form.
He remarked that the failure to add value to local resources has resulted in an excessive influx of foreign goods, leading to significant capital outflows from the continent.
In line with the vision of AfCFTA to establish a unified market, Prof. Boateng reiterated the need to eliminate “artificial borders” between nations to facilitate the smooth movement of people, goods, and services across the continent.
He urged Africans to “plan and think long-term,” adding that AfCFTA must be “more of a continental issue than a national issue.”
To achieve this objective, he stressed the crucial role engineers must play in constructing Africa’s supply and value chain infrastructure to position the continent as a prominent player in global trade.
Prof. Boateng underscored the importance of providing support to engineers to enable them to contribute effectively to value addition and problem-solving, thus expediting industrialization.
He encouraged Africans to adopt a long-term planning approach, asserting that AfCFTA should embody a strategic and forward-thinking perspective.