The second Africa Prosperity Dialogues is slated for January 2024, following a successful launch on Sunday, June 18, 2023.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues serve as a common platform where African leaders convene to deliberate actionable steps for creating prosperity through economic integration, especially under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The first edition, dubbed the Kwahu Summit, was held in January 2023 in the Eastern Region, and the second will also be held at the same place, from January 25 to January 27, 2023.
The Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, who was the special guest, launched the second edition.
In her address, Mrs. Bawumia observed the numerous actions demanded by the maiden dialogues, but noted that the core was the need for African leaders to commit to fighting for Africa’s prosperity.
“The second edition, therefore, presents a renewed opportunity to build on past successes and accelerate the pace of progress. I believe the theme and focus areas of this edition are timely and relevant to the challenges we face,” she remarked.
She added that it was imperative to explore innovative solutions to drive intra-Africa trade, stimulate inclusive growth and address inequalities among others.
She remarked that the Africa Prosperity Dialogues should constantly remind participants of the common vision of the African continent, adding that they present an opportunity to shape a brighter future for Africa.
“I look forward to welcoming you all back here in 2024 for the main dialogues… It is my distinct honour to declare the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024 duly launched,” she ended.
PURPOSE
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues was launched in 2022 as the flagship event of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN). The APN is a private, independent, and non-profit organization established in 2022 in Ghana as a continental network focused on fostering advocacy for the collective ownership and implementation of the AfCFTA.
Welcoming guests to the launch of the 2024 edition, the Executive Chairman, APN, Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko noted that the initiative was to mobilize the private sector in Africa to work with the AU and the AfCFTA to make the single market agenda work.
“So, the project is that every year we will meet, as political leaders, business leaders, top leaders, women’s organisations, youth organisations, CEOs and presidents, to review what has been done so far, but driven by the private sector in terms of how they want this single market project to work.
And then bring the ideas to bear and hopefully they will see the challenges and find solutions to getting this project done,” Gabby said.
PRIVATE SECTOR
The Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, said the AfCFTA was part of achieving Agenda 2063 of the AU.
According to him, it was critical for the AU and his Secretariat to move in tandem with the private sector “for the successful” implementation of the AfCFTA.
Other speakers, including the Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, the Chairman of McDan Group, and the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, stressed the need for private sector partnership and leveraging tourism in Africa.
The Executive Secretary to President Akufo-Addo, Nana Asante Bediatuo, who represented his boss, told the guest how the idea was conceived and communicated to the President during a trip to Davos.
