By Wilmot Konah, dadekolly20@gmail.com
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Liberia’s Law Reform Commission Chairperson, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, has called for legal reforms across Africa, warning that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) cannot deliver its full economic benefits without effective implementation, consistent regulations and reliable dispute-resolution mechanisms.
Cllr. Varmah made the call while delivering the keynote address at the annual conference of the Federation of African Law Students (FALAS) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Beyond Borders, Beyond Barriers: Africa’s Next Generation of Lawyers as Architects of Economic Integration, AfCFTA Implementation, and Pan-African Transformation.”
He said African countries must modernize their commercial laws, strengthen institutions and reduce unnecessary administrative barriers that prevent businesses from trading across national borders.
“Signing an agreement is not the same as implementing it. Declaring an ambition is not the same as delivering its benefits,” Varmah told the gathering.
According to him, the success of AfCFTA should be measured by whether farmers gain access to wider markets, small businesses join regional supply chains and young entrepreneurs expand their operations across the continent.
He argued that outdated legislation, inconsistent regulations and weak dispute-resolution systems discourage investment and obstruct trade, stressing that legal reform must be central to Africa’s economic integration agenda.
Varmah, who also serves as President of the West African Bar Association, said African countries do not need identical laws but should promote compatible legal standards, model legislation and mutual recognition arrangements that facilitate cross-border trade while respecting national sovereignty.
He further challenged African law students to prepare for emerging opportunities in international trade, investment, commercial arbitration, competition policy, digital commerce and technology law.
He urged African universities to strengthen legal education in these areas and encouraged FALAS to establish continental research networks, organize AfCFTA moot court competitions and develop policy proposals to address barriers to economic integration.
Varmah also emphasized the importance of integrity, accountability and the rule of law, noting that effective economic cooperation requires predictable institutions and respect for fundamental rights.
The AfCFTA Agreement entered into force in May 2019, with trading under the agreement officially commencing on January 1, 2021. The initiative seeks to establish a single continental market for goods and services and deepen economic integration among African countries.
Varmah concluded by urging the next generation of African lawyers to move beyond traditional courtroom practice and actively contribute to law reform, economic development and continental cooperation.
He said young lawyers should use their education and professional skills to help transform AfCFTA from a continental commitment into a practical reality that benefits African businesses and ordinary citizens.
