A shipment from Accra to Lagos should take a day but often takes four—stalled by paperwork, checkpoints, and unofficial fees. This reflects the persistent barriers undermining the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Launched in 2021 to create a seamless African market, AfCFTA promised lower tariffs, unified trade rules, and continental growth. Yet, nearly four years later, non-tariff barriers, weak infrastructure, and fragmented regulations continue to slow progress. Vision remains high, but real implementation lags behind ambition.