The founder and executive director of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has noted that investing in infrastructure is crucial in unlocking the continent’s prosperity and potential for socio-economic growth.
According to him, despite the continent’s potential, its infrastructure gap serves as a more potent blockade in terms of making the continent a single market for various businesses.
Addressing guests and diplomats at the official launch of the third edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2025 in Accra on Monday, May 13, 2024, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said, “The success of AfCFTA hinges on key enablers, such as energy, water, R&D, ICT, transport & logistics and the digital economy”.
With Africa boasting of the world’s fastest-growing population, the executive director mentioned that there is the need for substantial investments in infrastructure, that will yield even greater rewards, enabling efforts to create a larger pool of good jobs with good pay.
“Africa is brimming with potential: it has the world’s fastest-growing population projected to almost double to 2.5 billion people in the next 25 years; it has the world’s youngest population with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30; it has the world’s largest free trade area. Africa boasts of an enviable wealth of natural resources. Imagine what our Africa will be like in 20 years’ time if we choose to get it right in this our time?”, he said.
He added that, at this critical juncture, unlocking Africa’s prosperity depends on prioritizing investment in infrastructure, connecting people through infrastructure, and integrating economies to create and spread opportunities and prosperity to every community.
The African Prosperity Dialogue (APD) 2025 is scheduled for Thursday, January 30 to Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC)
It will be dedicated to Africa’s business, political and other institutional leaders who will discuss measures to make the continent a single market project, as a viable pathway for achieving shared, sustainable prosperity across Africa’s 1.4 billion citizens.
The event will be climaxed on the third day with the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards at the Fantasy Dome.
