AFCFTA, APN dialogue to centre on poverty alleviation

Poverty allocation will take the centre stage of the upcoming second edition of the African Prosperity Dialogue (APD).

The dialogue is being organised by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), in collaboration with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), under the theme: “Delivering Prosperity in Africa: Produce, Add value, Trade.”

In his opening remarks, at a joint press briefing in Accra, on Tuesday, the founder and Executive Chairman of APN, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said the objective of APN was to change the African narrative via prioritising poverty alleviation.

He said the Africa prosperity agenda is core to the event, which is scheduled to take place from January 25 to 27, 2024 in the Eastern Region.

Mr. Otchere -Darko said Africa has a lot of potentials that needed to be harnessed to turn fortunes and realities of the continent around and that the event will host entrepreneurs and chief executives, among others, to discuss ways of boosting intra-Africa trade and helping to promote economic growth.

Stressing on the importance of intra-African trade, he stated: “if over the first decade of its coming into being as in the AfCFTA, it is going to work, then there must be that push within the first 10 years, which is between 2021 and 2031.

If we can’t get it right now, then we can get it right because it’s the biggest project since 61 years ago, it’s not by accident that Ghana hosts the Secretariat, given the vision of Nkrumah and others.”

Mr. Otchere-Darko urged, particularly players in the private sector, to take advantage of the avenues provided by AfCFTA to grow their businesses.

This was as AfCFTA sought to remove all artificial barriers impeding trade among member states.

Chief Executive officer of APN, Njack Kane, said the three days event will capture issues on agriculture, finance, investment, ICT, among others.

He said participants would be drawn from various parts of the continent to discuss policy issues with critical stakeholders who would offer meaningful discussions on happenings in the continent and propose solutions.

“We will also address youthful policies, natural resources on hydrocarbons in the mining sector, how to add value to our continent’s resources, how to accelerate inter-African trade industrialisation, and how to take advantage of the over 1.4 billion market size the continent has,” he added.

Silver Ojakol, a representative of the Secretary General of the AfCFTA, lauded APN for the initiative, to ensure that the Africa’s agenda is achieved.

He said APN would serve as a useful platform for African countries to deliberate and strategies as well as focus on the natural resources and youthful workforce, to fulfil the promises for the people of the continent.

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