Akufo-Addo Urges Urgent Economic Integration for Africa at AfCFTA Event

The Africa Prosperity Dialogue’s second edition concluded with a resounding call for immediate economic integration across the continent. Ghana, hosting the AfCFTA Secretariat, proudly assumes the responsibility of facilitating an annual platform for both public and private sectors to collaborate on AfCFTA implementation, aiming for African prosperity.

In his closing address, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo lauded the efforts of the Africa Prosperity Network and its founder, Gabby Otchere-Dako, alongside the AfCFTA Secretary-General and event partners for their dedication and achievements.

President Akufo-Addo stressed the imperative of translating discussions into actionable plans, dubbing the 2024 Africa Prosperity Compact as the “Peduase Compact.” He extended gratitude to various contributors, including political leaders like Dr Efran Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Proposing the presentation of the Peduase Compact at the 37th Ordinary Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the President sought political commitment to foster interoperability among African member states.

Highlighting tangible projects emerging from the dialogue, such as a transcontinental railway, the Grand Inga Dam, and a dedicated airline linking Africa with the Caribbean, the President emphasized their significance in symbolically and strategically reconnecting historically divided families.

As his two-term tenure concludes on January 6, 2025, President Akufo-Addo pledged ongoing support as a patron of the initiative, expressing confidence in sustained growth through strategic partnerships between the Ghanaian government and key stakeholders.

Acknowledgments were extended to international leaders, including the President of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, the Vice President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, the Prime Minister of Mozambique, and the Speaker of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria.

Concluding, President Akufo-Addo underscored the interdependence of the prosperity of people of African descent worldwide with the development and progress of the African continent.