The concept of a freeport – an area where normal tax and customs rules don’t apply – has existed for centuries. Over time, different terms have emerged. They include export processing zones, free trade zones, special economic zones and industrial free zones. West Africa has 29 free zones, spanning 11 countries. Examples in west Africa are in Togo’s capital, Lomé, and Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.
The success of freeports in growing local manufacturing and economies is exemplified by countries like Malaysia and Singapore. This success can be replicated in west Africa under the right conditions. The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo interviewed transport economist Jonas Aryee, who has studied freeports in west Africa.
