The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat have stressed that Africa’s shared economic prosperity is intrinsically linked to the continent’s diverse pathways of economic integration.
This statement was made yesterday during a press briefing at the AfCFTA Headquarters in Accra, ahead of this year’s Africa Prosperity Dialogue (APD). The theme for APD 2024 is “Delivering Prosperity in Africa – Produce, Add Value, Trade”.
In an introductory remarks, the Founder and Executive Chairman of APN, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, stated that APN was established to shift Africa’s narrative from poverty alleviation to prosperity accentuation.
He emphasised that the continent should focus on creating prosperity, not just producing and alleviating poverty.
“So, we thought about the greatest instrument to push the prosperity agenda. In our view, that thing happened in 2019 and came into being in 2021. The Secretariat is here in Accra, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Push
He noted that for AfCFTA to succeed in its first decade (2021-2031), there must be a push within this period. He said if Africa fails to get it right now, it may never get it right.
He highlighted that AfCFTA is the most significant project since the formation of the AU 61 years ago, adding that it is no accident that Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat.
“We all know the vision of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and others… So, if we have the Secretariat here, it is incumbent on us to find a way to support and drive it.”
However, he emphasised that while the political leadership had introduced the idea of creating the world’s largest single market in Africa, the focus should be on the economy.
Mr Asare Otchere Darko stressed the importance of letting the private sector on the continent own and drive AfCFTA, in partnership with the political leadership.
He noted that the AfCFTA had garnered enthusiastic support from leadership, making it crucial “to aggregate resources—human strength, natural resources, value chains, etc.—to build linkages across the African continent”
Actionable
The AfCFTA Chief of Staff, Silver Ojakol, delivering an address on behalf of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA secretariat, Wamkele Mene, said that this year’s APD would be actionable in lifting Africa from poverty eradication to prosperity creation.
He thanked the government of Ghana and the APN Secretariat for their collaborative efforts in organizing the Africa Prosperity Dialogues.
He underscored the pivotal role Africa plays in the global economy, asserting that a decision by the continent to halt the export of raw materials would have profound repercussions on the world economy.
Highlighting the driving force behind global industrialization, he argued that Africa’s vast resources, including natural resources like gold, manganese, bauxite, and cobalt, as well as agricultural products such as coffee, tea, and timber, contribute significantly to growth in regions like Europe and China.
He emphasied the interconnectedness of Africa’s resources with the industrial development observed worldwide.
He further stressed the need for all stakeholders to take ownership of the AfCFTA agenda. Such collective commitment, according to him, is essential to championing Africa’s prosperity through initiatives that promote job creation and industrialisation.
Optimism
Meanwhile, a Board Chairman of the APN, Gayheart Mensah, expressed unwavering optimism in Africa’s potential, citing the continent’s richness in both capital and natural resources.
For his part, Njack Kane, the CEO of APN, provided a comprehensive exploration of the thematic areas encapsulated within the Africa Prosperity Dialogues.
These pivotal themes encompass agriculture and food sovereignty, natural resources and value addition, manufacturing, infrastructure and ICT, finance and investments, as well as transport and logistics.
In his detailed overview, Kane shed light on the intricate aspects of each focus area, emphasizing the significance of addressing these domains to foster holistic prosperity across the African continent.
Dr. Eugene Owusu, the Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of Ghana on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provided insights into APD 2024.
He explained the philosophical underpinnings of the event, citing the reasons behind the chosen theme and the strategic focus areas.
APD 2024
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) is organised by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), in collaboration with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
This year’s dialogues will be hosted by the President of Ghana, who has invited several of his fellow African heads of state, plus the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Irfaan Ali.
APD 2024 retreat will take place from January 25 – 27, 2024, at Peduase Presidential Lodge, Aburi Hills, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
There will be a presidential dinner gala and the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards ceremony on the night of January 26, 2024 at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel in Accra.
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