As Africa opens up its markets to greater cross-border trade, a critical question emerges: How do we make trade easier while keeping counterfeit goods out of our markets?

This was a key focus of discussions at the 7th Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA 2026), held from 14th to 16th October 2026 in Accra, Ghana, where the Anti-Counterfeit Authority - Kenya(ACA) joined policymakers, public sector leaders and industry stakeholders from across the continent.

Speaking at the Ports, Customs, Export and Trade Forum, ACA Executive Director, Robi M. King'a PhD, shared Kenya’s experience in balancing trade facilitation with intellectual property protection, alongside representatives from the Ghana Revenue Authority's Customs Division and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

He highlighted Kenya’s whole-of-government approach to combating counterfeit trade, including collaboration with the Kenya Revenue Authority at points of entry, the recordation of intellectual property rights to strengthen targeted border enforcement, and integration with the KenTrade Single Window to facilitate the clearance of genuine goods.

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creating new opportunities for businesses, King’a emphasised the need for African countries to strengthen cooperation among customs, regulatory and enforcement agencies to prevent counterfeiters from exploiting expanding trade routes.

He further underscored the importance of regional partnerships, information sharing and capacity building, including WIPO-supported training for enforcement officers, in developing a coordinated continental response to counterfeiting.

Held under the theme “Governance 2030: Transforming Public Service for Resilient Institutions and a Digital, Green and Secure Africa,” the conference provided a platform for exchanging practical solutions to strengthen public institutions and accelerate Africa’s economic transformation.

For ACA, facilitating legitimate trade and protecting market integrity are not competing priorities. Both are essential to building an African marketplace where businesses thrive, innovation is protected and consumers can buy with confidence.