Sanvee Condji-Hillacondji, August 11, 2025 — The West African Association for Cross-Border Trade in Food, Agro-forestry, Livestock, and Fisheries Products (WACTAF) will, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, hold a road show focused on raising awareness and sharing experiences on road harassment at the Sanvee Condji-Hillacondji joint border post along the Togo–Benin corridor.
Themed “Cross-Border Trade in West Africa and the Sahel: What Mechanisms Can Strengthen the Participation of Women and Youth?”, the initiative is part of the “Enhancing Women and Youth Participation in Cross-Border Trade in West Africa” project, supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The event aims to help eliminate persistent obstacles to the free movement of agro-forestry, livestock, and fisheries products, while promoting smooth, fair, and inclusive cross-border trade.
Despite regional and continental commitments such as the Malabo Declaration, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), West African trade corridors still face significant non-tariff barriers, including excessive road checks, informal levies, illicit payments, poor enforcement of sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and limited access to information and assistance.
At the gathering, local authorities, security forces, traders, transporters, professional organizations, and technical partners will:
Learn about WACTAF’s monitoring tools and anti-harassment measures;
Engage in direct dialogue on field challenges;
Commit to lawful practices and cooperation to curb illicit activities.
Through this road show, WACTAF reaffirms its role as a regional facilitator and its commitment to inclusive and sustainable economic integration in West Africa and the Sahel, placing women and youth at the heart of trade dynamics.
