Africa Prosperity Network’s (APN) maiden Africa Prosperity Dialogue is scheduled this month at Aburi in the Eastern Region
The maiden edition, it is aimed at helping create awareness of the achievements of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its quest to boost trade on the African continent.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogue, dubbed the ‘Kwahu Summit’, is the brainchild of the Africa Prosperity Network.
The initiative is dubbed ‘Kwahu Summit’ because the idea was birthed at Rock City Hotel in the Kwahu area of the Eastern Region.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogue series has been established as a convening platform for African political and business leaders to set up and push initiatives to transform Africa, with the overarching goal of achieving prosperity across the continent through enhanced economic cooperation, creating deeper trade and integration, and accelerating impact investments.
Speaking at a media briefing held in Accra, Dr Eugene Owusu,the Executive Director and Coordinator of the Kwahu Summit Secretariat & Sherpa/Special Advisor to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) said the maiden dialogue will be held in Ghana from 26-28 January 2023.
This maiden dialogue is being organised by APN, in partnership with the Office of the President, the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, UNDP, and UNECA, he added.
He also noted that the theme of the 2023 summit is: ‘AfCFTA: From Ambition to Action – Delivering Prosperity through Continental Trade’.
According to him, the choice of this year’s theme reflects the tremendous opportunities that the AfCFTA presents for deepening intra-African trade and for advancing the prosperity of the overall continent.
He explained that The Dialogue will be in two parts namely 26-27 January on which there will be the Business and Policy Leaders Dialogue that will take place at the Safari Valley Resort at Adukrom in the Akwapim Hills and on 28 January will be the Presidential and Business Leaders Summit that will be held at the Peduase Presidential Lodge. The event will be attended by President Akufo-Addo and his colleague African presidents, he indicated.
Dr Eugene Owusu was quick to add that invitations have been extended to a number of Heads of State, including Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire, Egypt, DRC, Guinea Bissau, Rwanda, and Congo Brazzaville. Others are Niger, Benin, and the Former President of Niger.
He further explained that the Business and Policy Leaders Dialogue will bring together business executives, trade associations, ministers of state, heads of Regional Economic Communities under the AU, technocrats, women, young entrepreneurs, and thought leaders to define practical ‘Quick Wins’ to move the AfCFTA initiative from Ambition to Action.
On his part, the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA secretariat in Accra, Mr Wamkele Mene said three things have so far happened in Africa, the first being the establishment of the Africa Union (AU), the second being the establishment of AfCFTA and third being the setup of the secretariat in Accra.
According to him, Ghana has been at the forefront of Pan-Africanism on the continent hence the decision to bring the secretariat to Ghana.
He said since the office space was handed over to AfCFTA , the secretariat has begun to turn a new page for Africa.
He explained that AfCFTA is at the forefront of facilitating investment on the continent.
He added that it’s for these reasons that the secretariat will soon welcome its 45th member; Mozambique.
