The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will attend the second annual Africa Prosperity Dialogue (APD 2024) in Ghana from 25-27 January 2024. She will join heads of Government from Africa and the Caribbean, other political leaders, senior policymakers, technocrats, civil society representatives, academics and business executives for discussions aimed at accelerating and improving trade between African nations.
The three-day event is being hosted in Accra by the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, with the aim of fostering cooperation between political leaders and the private and public sectors. APD 2024 is organised by the Africa Prosperity Network and is supported by the Africa Free Continental Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, in responding to the conference’s theme ‘Delivering Prosperity in Africa-Produce, Add Value, Trade’, said:
“The APD 2024 summit provides a much-needed platform for the private sector to collaborate with governments across Africa. Leveraging AfCFTA, we could fast-track the realisation of Africa’s single market potential and pave the way for the region to become one of the world’s largest trading blocs.”
“We must refocus our efforts to ensure closer ties and fruitful collaboration. For our 21 Commonwealth African members, there is an additional ‘Commonwealth advantage’ to doing so. Our research indicates that, when Commonwealth countries trade with one another, it is 19 per cent cheaper to do so.”.
"Undoubtedly, African countries would be stronger together if they achieved improved levels of intra-African trade. Platforms like this one assist in creating greater business opportunities and can help to find solutions to break down the barriers hindering trade. I look forward to being in Accra to share the substantial work that we are doing and supporting the mission of achieving greater prosperity in Africa.”
Secretary-General Scotland will share the work done by the Secretariat in facilitating and expediting economic integration, ensuring shared prosperity, as well as creating a more robust and prosperous future across the Commonwealth and, in particular, the African region.
Member countries can also benefit from the Secretariat’s resources, including tools and templates, financing options, online training courses, policy and trade expertise, as well as capacity-building programmes.
Among the areas of potential support is the Secretariat’s Hub and Spokes initiative that sends trade advisors to government ministries and economic organisations to help boost trade in the Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.
She will also discuss the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, which aims to boost trade and investment links across the Commonwealth, with a special emphasis on transforming and accelerating the growth of digital economies.
While in Ghana, the Secretary-General will also attend the Africa Prosperity Champions Awards ceremony. She will also participate in a panel on reparations for infrastructure for Africa and Global Africa with: H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal; H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana; Christal M. Jackson, Chair of The Africa-America Institute; and Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah, President, Afreximbank.
Media contact
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Charmaine Wright Head of Media Relations, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
- +44 20 7747 6242 | E-mail
