Over 3,000 delegates to convene in Accra for Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2025

The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) has announced that the 2025 edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) will bring together over 3,000 delegates from 46 countries, including seven African Heads of State, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) from January 30 to February 1, 2025.  

With the theme “Delivering the African Single Market Through Infrastructure: Invest, Connect, Integrate,” the APD 2025 seeks to galvanise public and private-sector stakeholders to accelerate infrastructure investments, a critical element for realising Africa’s vision of a single interconnected market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  

In his welcome address at a press briefing today in Accra, Mr. Sidig Faroug Eltoum, CEO of the Africa Prosperity Network Secretariat, highlighted the event’s significance. “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 said.  

The gathering 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, will also play key roles.  

Addressing the press conference, Rui Pedro Afonso Livramento, Chief of Staff at the AfCFTA Secretariat, underscored the importance of infrastructure in achieving Africa’s economic integration. “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. However, infrastructure remains a critical bottleneck,” he noted.  

He pointed out that inefficient transport and logistics increase intra-African trade costs by 30–40 percent, disproportionately impacting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). He added, “Infrastructure modernisation, enhanced connectivity, and digital innovation will be fundamental to unlocking the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.”  

Key highlights

Day One (January 30) will feature the opening of the ProJet Afrique Exhibition and official side events, concluding with a Welcome Reception at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra. Day Two (January 31) will focus on topics such as sustainable energy, digital infrastructure, manufacturing, STEM education, healthcare, and urban development.  

The final day (February 1) will include a High-Level Dialogue between Heads of State and business leaders, culminating in a Presidential Roundtable discussion on private-sector involvement in infrastructure development. Fireside conversations will explore BADEA’s US$50 billion Investment Fund and the perspectives of Africa’s leading industrialists.  

The event will conclude with the prestigious *Africa Prosperity Champions Awards* and Presidential Gala Dinner, recognising individuals and organisations for their contributions to Africa’s progress toward the African Union’s Agenda 2063.  

Mr. Eltoum expressed gratitude to the AfCFTA Secretariat and APN partners for their collaboration. “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,” he said.  

He also lauded the media for their role in advancing the APD’s goals. “We treasure and value our partnership with the media, and we sincerely thank them for their contributions [which] have materialised into a clearer and more influential role in shaping the dialogue itself,” he added.  

The Africa Prosperity Dialogues, spearheaded by the APN, aim to elevate Africa’s economic integration from ambition to action.