A borderless Africa must also be a law-governed Africa — Patricia Appiagyei

The Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, has stressed that Africa’s integration agenda will only succeed if it is firmly anchored in the rule of law.

She said the push for a borderless continent must be matched with strong legal frameworks, effective dispute resolution systems and the alignment of domestic laws with continental obligations.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2026 African Prosperity Dialogue in Accra on Friday, February 6, the Asokwa MP cautioned that treaties alone cannot deliver integration without faithful implementation at the national level.

Appiaagyei said Africa’s challenge is no longer the absence of agreements but the failure to translate them into enforceable laws that benefit citizens and businesses across the continent.

“This make Africa borderless now advocacy initiative reminds us of an uncomfortable but necessary truth. Africa’s challenge today is not the absence of treaties or protocols, it is the absence of full and faithful implementation,” she said.

She described Parliament as a critical driver of continental integration, noting that treaties and protocols only gain legal force through domestication, budgetary support and sustained oversight by legislatures.

The lawmaker further cited the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) dispute settlement mechanism as central to building trust in the single market, warning that weak enforcement could deter investors and traders.

“A rule-based single African market can only function if its rules are credible, predictable and enforceable. The dispute settlement mechanism is the backbone of the AfCFTA,” she stated.

She further called for the full operationalisation of the African Court of Justice, arguing that a functioning supranational judicial body would provide legal certainty, strengthen compliance by member states and attract long-term investment.

According to her, a law-governed borderless Africa does not weaken national sovereignty but rather strengthens collective sovereignty by replacing unilateral actions with common rules and accountability.