
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) has confirmed that over 3,000 delegates from more than 46 countries worldwide are set to converge in Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) for the 2025 edition of the African Prosperity Dialogues (APD), scheduled to take place from January 30 to February 1, 2025. This landmark gathering will feature seven confirmed Heads of State, reinforcing the event’s significance as a premier platform for advancing Africa’s economic integration and prosperity agenda.
This announcement was made during the APN & AfCFTA hybrid press conference for the 2025 APD held at the at AfCFTA conference room, Accra on Monday, 27th January, 2025. Speakers for the press briefing included Nana Yaa Mensah, who served as Moderator; Sidig Faroug El Toum, Chief Executive Officer of the APN Secretariat; Mr. Rui Pedro Afonso Livramento, the Chief of Staff at the AfCFTA Secretariat; Tonisha Tagoe, Lead of Breakfast Meetings at the APN Secretariat. The other speakers were Stephanie Diatta, Chief of Partnerships & International Relations at the APN Secretariat; Prince Moses, Director of Communication Directorate at the APN Secretariat; Priscilla Ampratwum, Administration & Logistics Lead at the APN Secretariat; and Jesse Agyepong, Lead Consult for APD 2024/2025.
The APD 2025 hosted by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, this year’s conference will center on the theme: “Delivering the African Single Market Through Infrastructure: Invest, Connect, Integrate.” The dialogues aim to galvanize public and private-sector stakeholders to accelerate infrastructure investments and integration, critical to realizing Africa’s vision of a single, interconnected continental market.
Magnitude
In his welcome address, Sidig Faroug El Toum, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) Secretariat, emphasized the event’s magnitude. “This year’s dialogues will be unprecedented in scope, with participation from diverse global players and leadership. Having over 3,000 delegates and seven Heads of State join us in Accra highlights the immense interest in advancing Africa’s economic prospects through strategic infrastructure investments,” he stated.
The APN CEO lauded the pivotal role of the media in advancing the goals of the African Prosperity Dialogues (APD). He expressed gratitude to the media and other key stakeholders for their contributions to making the dialogues a transformative platform for the continent’s economic integration. “We treasure and value our partnership with the media, and we sincerely thank them for their contributions to the success of the African Prosperity Dialogues over the past two editions,” Mr. El Toum stated. “The role of the media has been instrumental in shaping these dialogues and amplifying their impact. As we move forward, we are looking at fostering a more active media engagement to help shift Africa’s narrative from poverty reduction to the pursuit of prosperity,” he added.
Media role
Mr. El Toum emphasized that the APN’s partnership with the media had evolved significantly, with more focused collaborations expected in the lead-up to the 2025 event. He cited a recent webinar held with media stakeholders, describing it as a fruitful exchange that clarified the media’s role in shaping the discourse around African prosperity. “Your presence here is deeply valued. The media’s involvement has materialized into a clearer and more influential role in shaping the dialogue itself, and we look forward to strengthening this collaboration,” he said.
Mr. El Toum extended gratitude to a broad spectrum of partners who have played a vital role in the success of the APD, with a special mention of Ghana’s people for their unparalleled hospitality and support as hosts. “We treasure the partnerships we have established with numerous actors. Among these, we deeply appreciate the Ghanaian people for their warm hospitality, which has been instrumental in hosting this event successfully. We also thank the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat for walking with us on this journey toward prosperity,” he stated.
Diverse contributions
The CEO acknowledged the diverse contributions of sponsors and collaborators whose involvement has helped propel the APD into a prominent platform for advancing Africa’s economic agenda. He commended the APN team, describing them as a “wonderful team of experts,” many of whom were working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of the three-day event.
Mr. El Toum highlighted the overarching goal of the dialogues: shifting Africa’s narrative from merely reducing poverty to actively pursuing economic prosperity. “This vision can only be achieved through strong partnerships and collective efforts,” he concluded, reiterating the APN Secretariat’s commitment to fostering unity and progress across the continent.
Infrastructure key
Taking his turn, the Chief of Staff at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Mr. Rui Pedro Afonso Livramento, underscored the critical role of infrastructure in achieving the vision of a fully integrated African single market. Mr. Livramento reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to fostering collaborations to address infrastructure deficits that continue to impede intra-African trade.
“The AfCFTA has made significant strides since its inception, including establishing a solid institutional framework and recording growth in trade under the Guided Trade Initiative,” he stated. “However, infrastructure remains a critical bottleneck. Inefficient transport and logistics add 30 to 40 percent to intra-African trade costs, particularly affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs).”
Progress
Mr. Livramento highlighted that, to address these challenges, the AfCFTA Secretariat had championed the establishment of trade aggregators to integrate SMEs into continental value chains. He commended countries such as China, Egypt, Kenya, and South Africa for leading efforts in this regard.
He said the theme “Delivering African Single Market Through Infrastructure: Invest, Connect, Integrate,” by the 2025 African Prosperity Dialogues aim to underscored the importance of infrastructure development in realizing the continent’s ambitious economic goals.
“This theme emphasizes the crucial role of infrastructure in enabling the free movement of products, services, and investments across borders,” Mr. Livramento said. “Infrastructure modernization, enhanced connectivity, and digital innovation will be fundamental to unlocking the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.”
Collaboration
Mr. Livramento called for stronger partnerships among governments, private-sector actors, and development partners to create an enabling environment for infrastructure development. He expressed optimism that the 2025 edition of the APD would generate valuable insights and build momentum to accelerate the AfCFTA’s implementation.
“As one of the first major events of the year, this dialogue sets the tone for a prosperous 2025. Through collective action and strategic investments, Africa is ready to deliver on its promise of economic transformation,” he emphasised. Reflecting on the long-standing relationship between the APN and the AfCFTA Secretariat, Mr. Livramento noted their shared goal of advancing Africa’s prosperity through cooperation. “This marks the third year of collaboration with the APN, and I am confident that our strengthened partnership will drive further progress in the coming years.”
Plans
For her part, Stephanie Diatta, Chief of Partnerships and International Relations at the APN Secretariat, outlined plans for the upcoming African Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2025. She described the dialogues as a significant step toward achieving Africa’s immense potential through the implementation of the AfCFTA, the largest free trade area in the world. She noted that the event would attract representatives from 46 countries, with seven heads of state already confirming their attendance. She emphasized that this diverse and influential assembly will focus on strategic solutions aimed at transforming Africa’s borders into bridges of economic integration and opportunity.
Personalities
The dialogues will be graced by prominent personalities, including Mesfin Tasew, the Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, whose visionary leadership has elevated African aviation to the global stage. Other confirmed dignitaries include Ambassador Bridget Motsepe, a renowned advocate for economic empowerment in Africa; Dr. Abdulhamid Al Khalifa, President of the OPEC Fund; and Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). The event will also feature Dr. Amany Asfour, President of the Africa Business Council, and the CEO of Telecel Group, Moh Damush. Additionally, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the APN Advisory Council, and H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, will play key roles in the discussions.
She reiterated that the African Prosperity Dialogues 2025 will bring together over 3,000 delegates from various sectors, creating a platform for impactful collaboration and dialogue. She said the participants will include young and women entrepreneurs who are redefining innovation and inclusivity across industries. She said leaders from sectors such as digital technology, agribusiness, manufacturing, real estate development, construction, and shipping will also be present. She mentioned that executives from aviation, transport, logistics, and telecommunications industries are expected to engage with financiers, multilateral financial institutions, bankers, and investors dedicated to Africa’s progress.
In addition to business leaders, she said the dialogues will attract academics, civil society representatives, traditional rulers, and policymakers, reflecting a comprehensive approach to addressing Africa’s challenges. Regional bloc representatives and executives from international organizations such as the European Commission will also attend. To amplify Africa’s success stories and shape global perspectives, leading media organizations including CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes Africa, Cleopatra Media, and AllAfrica will cover the event.
Ms. Diatta explained that the sessions and panel discussions had been carefully designed to inspire and empower participants. The event will offer unparalleled opportunities for networking, enabling stakeholders to forge partnerships, secure investments, and drive policy advancements that will unlock the continent’s economic potential. Participants from the public and private sectors, along with academics and development experts, will collaborate on solutions that promote cross-border trade, digital transformation, and infrastructure development, all integral to achieving the vision of a single, integrated African market.
Ms. Diatta highlighted that the event aims to redefine Africa’s narrative. Instead of focusing solely on poverty reduction, the discussions will emphasize the continent’s pursuit of prosperity through collective action and strategic investment.
Incredible platforms
Prince Moses, Director of the Communication Directorate at the APN Secretariat, said the upcoming dialogues will begin with a series of high-profile meetings, referred to as breakfast meetings, which will provide an incredible platform to set the tone for the discussions. He explained that these dialogues will be officially opened by the Chairperson of the Advisory Council, Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma, South Africa, a significant personality who leads the council and whose presence underscores the importance of the discussions. According to Mr. Moses, the dialogues will feature two major components: the Business and Leaders Dialogues and the Presidential and Leaders Dialogues, creating a dynamic platform for impactful conversations on infrastructure development in the context of Africa’s trade ecosystem.
Mr. Moses highlighted that the overarching theme of this year’s event will focus on infrastructure, with sessions designed to unpack critical aspects such as funding, transport and logistics, sustainable energy, digital infrastructure, and social infrastructure. He added that the event will feature fireside chats, addresses, and presentations by high-level personalities, further enriching the conversations. He explained that the dialogues will adopt a two-pillar approach, beginning with enabling pillars that focus on investment, particularly in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and then moving on to delivery pillars that cover both hard infrastructure, including energy, housing, transport, and agriculture, and soft infrastructure, such as ICT, healthcare, education, sports, and legal frameworks.
Addressing logistical gaps
He elaborated on the significance of addressing logistical gaps in the continent’s trade and travel networks, highlighting the inefficiencies in the intra-African system where challenges such as visa requirements and limited direct transport links burden connectivity. Mr. Moses emphasized the need to address these issues and improve accessible, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions, referencing Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, which has the potential to power East Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Inga Dam, which could serve the entire continent. He suggested that regional collaboration could provide lasting solutions to energy challenges and cited examples of initiatives such as South Africa’s efforts to address energy demands and how its partnerships with countries like the DRC could be mutually beneficial.
The dialogues, Mr. Moses explained, will also examine the potential of leveraging digital infrastructure and innovation to enhance connectivity and economic integration across the continent. He noted projections that by 2035, an additional 300 million Africans would require internet connectivity and outlined efforts to promote the growth of interoperability in payment systems across Africa through platforms like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement Systems (PAPSS). He added that the context-setting for these discussions would be provided by a representative from PAPSS, while moderation would be led by Samuel Amano, the CEO of BlueSpace Africa Technologies.
Mr. Moses stressed the importance of engaging Africa’s infrastructure development partners, including multilateral financial institutions and representatives from countries such as China, Japan, and Ghana. He referenced data indicating that poor infrastructure reduces national growth by two percentage points and slows business productivity by as much as 40 percent, underscoring the urgency of the discussions. He expressed confidence that the participation of these partners would help address some of the continent’s most pressing infrastructure gaps and pave the way for significant progress in areas such as transport, energy, and digital systems.
He reaffirmed the APN’s commitment to providing a full spectrum approach to infrastructure development and emphasized that the event’s outcomes would focus on actionable strategies to bridge existing gaps and foster sustainable development.
Breakfast meeting series
Tonisha Tagoe, Lead of Breakfast Meetings at the APN Secretariat, expressed great enthusiasm as she shared exciting developments around the Africa Prosperity Dialogs 2025, particularly the expanded breakfast meeting series. She emphasized that this series represents a pivotal moment in Africa’s journey towards economic growth, sustainability, and prosperity. “It’s an extreme honor and privilege to share these developments with you today,” she said.
Tagoe explained that 2025 marks the third edition of the African Prosperity Dialogs and the expanded breakfast meeting series, which has been elevated to a key component of the event. For the first time, these meetings, typically side events, will have dedicated programming on the morning of Day 1, scheduled for January 30, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. The breakfast meetings will provide a platform for vital discussions on Africa’s most pressing issues, with the goal of shaping strategies that will influence the continent’s future.
The six distinct sessions planned for the breakfast meetings will cover topics crucial for Africa’s long-term prosperity, including female entrepreneurship, housing, payments, youth empowerment, public-private partnerships, and venture capital and private equity. One session will focus on female entrepreneurship in Africa, addressing the barriers faced by women in accessing digital finance and digital literacy programs. Tagoe noted that while digital technologies could add $300 billion to Africa’s economy by 2025, only 30% of African entrepreneurs have access to digital finance. The session will be led by the Ladies Entrepreneurship Club, with the goal of equipping female entrepreneurs with tools and strategies to leverage technology for business growth.
Another key breakfast meeting will address housing and urban development in Africa, where rapid urbanization continues to put pressure on the continent’s housing sector. With support from the Shelter Freak Development Bank, the session will explore strategies for unlocking finance for affordable and sustainable housing and promoting public-private partnerships to address the housing deficit. Cross-border payments will be another focus of the breakfast meetings. Tagoe pointed out that inefficiencies in current payment systems remain a major barrier to regional trade in Africa. The Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) will play a critical role in overcoming these obstacles by enabling seamless payments across the continent. The session will explore how PAPSS can enhance trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and improve financial integration.
For youth empowerment, a session organized by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs will delve into infrastructure challenges faced by young African entrepreneurs. Tagoe emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in infrastructure, digital connectivity, and access to capital to empower the youth. The session will focus on finding actionable solutions to these challenges, ensuring that young entrepreneurs have the tools they need to succeed. Venture capital and private equity will also be a key topic, with a focus on how these funding models can help close the financing gap for infrastructure projects across Africa. Tagoe stressed the importance of private sector investment in driving innovation and economic growth. The session will explore strategies to encourage more investment in infrastructure projects and foster public-private partnerships.
Finally, the role of public-private partnerships in the success of AfCFTA will be explored. Tagoe emphasized that for AfCFTA to reach its full potential, strong partnerships are needed to provide the necessary infrastructure and support systems. Africa Law Practice International will lead the session on how public-private partnerships can help accelerate AfCFTA’s implementation. Tagoe encouraged participants to register early for the breakfast meetings, as space is limited. She expressed hope that attendees would leave the sessions with actionable solutions and valuable connections that would help drive Africa’s prosperity forward.
APD 2025 / Activity line-up
Africa Prosperity Network (APN)
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) is a non-profit-making private organisation. It was founded with the objective of advancing the vision of “the Africa We Want” as outlined in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. It strives to promote Africa’s progress, independent of external aid. Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD). The Africa Prosperity Dialogues series offers a strategic platform where movers and shakers across Africa elevate the continent’s economic integration objectives from ambition to real action.
Set in Accra, the APD is a one-of-a-kind event where African leaders from diverse areas of national endeavour gather each year to expedite, among other things, the implementation of the agreed initiatives within the AfCFTA trade bloc, and shape the Africa Agenda for Action. APD brings into practical focus, the continent’s critical challenges and industrialisation priorities and advance aggressively the commercial and infrastructural interventions to achieve the vision of an Africa Beyond Aid.
Day One (30 January) will commence with the opening of the Projet Afrique Exhibition and official side events and the opening ceremony of APD 2025, featuring international dignitaries. Key discussions by renowned experts will be on infrastructure funding, transport and logistics for free movement across Africa.
The day concludes with a Welcome Reception at the prestigious Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.
Day Two (31 January) focuses on crucial topics, including sustainable energy solutions, digital infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, STEM education, healthcare systems, and sustainable urban development. Day Two will also have an open forum with contributions from all participants on the theme. These sessions will form the foundation for the summit’s outcome document with recommendations.
The final day (1 February) marks the High-Level Heads of State and Business Leaders’ Dialogue, culminating in a Presidential Roundtable discussion on policy frameworks for private sector participation in building Africa’s single market. At least six heads of state have confirmed their participation. The day will feature two significant fireside conversations on BADEA’s US$50 billion Investment Fund and with one of Africa’s most celebrated industrialists.
The summit concludes on the night of the third day (1st February) with the prestigious Africa Prosperity Champions Awards and Presidential Gala Dinner at Kempinski Hotel, Accra. honouring individuals and organisations for their distinguished contributions to Africa’s prosperity and integration. The black-tie gala dinner will celebrate achievements that inspire the continent’s progress toward its 2063 vision of building the Africa we want.