The African Prosperity Dialogue 2025, organized by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat which aims to highlight the crucial role of infrastructure in making Africa a single market to drive economic integration will take place in Accra.
The event, scheduled to take place at the Accra International Conference Centre, From Thursday, January 30 to Saturday, February 1, 2025 is expected to host 3,000 delegates from 46 counties and 7 African Heads of State, institutional leaders, industry players, and entrepreneurs, to drive policy reforms and foster economic transformation.
This year’s conference themed, “Delivering the African Single Market Through Infrastructure: Invest, Connect, Integrate” seeks to develop solutions and strategies to curb the continent’s critical infrastructure challenges.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rui Pedro Afonso Livramento, Chief of Staff at the AfCFTA Secretariat, indicated that, despite the secretariat’s progress made over the years, inefficient infrastructure has been a major problem for SMEs facing high intra-African trade costs.
“Intra-African trade costs currently range between 30 to 40%, largely due to inefficient infrastructure,” he said.
Rui Pedro Afonso, further highlighted that, to address the menace, the secretariat is championing the establishment of trade aggregators to integrate into continental value chains with Ghana Egypt, Rwanda, Kenya, and South Africa.
Sidig Faroug El Toum, Chief Executive Officer of African Prosperity Network (APN) reiterated the urgency need to shift Africans’ narrative from poverty reduction to more pursuit of prosperity.
“We cannot achieve prosperity alone, we need to work together to change the narrative and take collective action”, he charged.
Mr. ElToum commended all active key players in support of the vision of making Africa Prosperity Dialogue a success over the years.
“We thank the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat for walking with us on this journey toward prosperity. We treasure the partnerships we have established with numerous actors. We also deeply appreciate the Ghanaian people for their warm hospitality, which has been instrumental in hosting this event successfully,” he stated.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The event will kickstart with series of strategic breakfast meetings hosted by private sector leaders and key industry players to 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.
These discussions will dig into six vital areas of Africa’s economic growth:
1. Scaling Business Through Technology Investments
Hosted by the Ladies Entrepreneurship Club, this session will explore how technology can empower African entrepreneurs to scale and compete globally.
2. Infrastructure Development for SMEs and Young Entrepreneurs
The Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) will host a discussion on bridging infrastructure gaps to empower small businesses and young innovators.
3. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for Trade Enablement
Africa Law Practice International (ALPi) will explore PPPs as tools to power trade under the AfCFTA rollout.
4. Unlocking Finance for Urban Development
Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) will lead a conversation on funding models for housing and urban infrastructure.
5. Private Equity and Venture Capital for Infrastructure Growth
ASIME will provide insights into funding opportunities through venture capital and private equity.
6. Enhancing Cross-Border Trade with Digital Payments
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) will highlight its role in streamlining trade payments under the AfCFTA.
The conference will feature notable personalities, including Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines; Ambassador Bridget Motsepe, a leading advocate for African economic empowerment; and Dr. Abdulhamid Al Khalifa, President of the OPEC Fund. Other confirmed dignitaries include Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of BADEA; Dr. Amany Asfour, President of the Africa Business Council; and Moh Damush, CEO of Telecel Group. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the APN Advisory Council, and H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
