INVITATION FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES

What: UONGOZI Institute in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat is organising the 7^th African Leadership Forum (ALF) on “Promoting intra-Africa trade to unlock agricultural potential in Africa”.

Who: The forum is convened by H.E. Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, ALF Patron and fourth President of the United Republic of Tanzania; and H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat.

When: 25 – 26 May 2023.

Where: The Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, Ghana.

How: The forum will feature an opening plenary session and three closed thematic sessions on:

1. Unlocking agricultural potentials in Africa.
2. Market as a driver for fostering agricultural productivity in Africa.
3. Mobilising African stakeholders to ensure a successful implementation of the AfCFTA.

The closed sessions will be held under Chatham House Rules to encourage frank, open and in-depth discussion. 

Objective: The forum seeks to provide a space to share experiences and insights to facilitating a successful agricultural trade among African countries. The key objectives are to:

1. Highlight Africa’s agricultural potentials and opportunities emerging from climate change;
2. share experiences and lessons on the obstacles (internal and international) in   maximising agricultural potential in Africa;
3. discuss the potential and obstacles to, as well as practical and realistic requirements for implementing AfCFTA within Africa’s agriculture context; and
4. identify priorities and roadmap for implementation of the agricultural trade perspective under the AfCFTA in order to realise its transformative economic objective.

Guest of honour: H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

Participants: The delegates of the forum will include H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Dr. Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, Former President of the Republic of Tunisia; H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Thomas Boni Yayi, Former President of the Republic of Benin; H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of the Republic of Liberia; H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, Former Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; H.E. Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; and H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyata, Former President of the Republic of Kenya.

Other delegates are leaders from all parts of the continent – and from a range of professions in government, business, academia and civil society.

Journalists are invited to cover the opening plenary session on 25 May 2023 from 8:30am – 12:30pm, and the closing session on 26 May 2023 from 12:30pm – 13:30pm where the statement of the forum will be presented.

You are kindly entreated to arrive, 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

For further information, please contact: 

Mrs. Grace Khoza, Principal Communications Advisor | AfCFTA Secretariat | E-mail: [email protected] | Accra, Ghana | www.au-afcfta.org  

Ms. Suzana Aroko, Acting Communications Manager | UONGOZI Institute | E-mail: [email protected] | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | www.uongozi.or.tz

Take part in the online conversation: #ALF2023