Poverty reduction tops agenda of Leadership Forum

from The Ghanaian Chronicle

By Joseph Coomson

Poverty reduction tops agenda of Leadership Forum Business and public sector leaders arriving in Ghana for the 5th African Business Leaders Forum have underlined the urgent need to define new solutions to the challenges created by widespread poverty on the continent.

The three-day high profile event which takes place at the Accra International Conference Centre from October 17 – 19, 2007 will open with a presidential debate aimed at finding ways that the private and public sectors can work together to: ‘Conquer Poverty for Good’.

According to a recent UN report: “the most fundamental development challenge for Africa today is poverty reduction. Africa is the poorest continent with 25 of the world’s 30 poorest countries. The number of Sub-Saharan Africans that currently are living below the poverty line is today more than 180 million people and will in 2020 have exceeded 300 million people.”

Some of the confirmed high profile speakers include Dr. Aniebo Roberts, Special Adviser to the president of NEPAD, Mr. Chris Kirubi, chairman of Haco Industries, Kenya, Mr. Goodie Ibru, Chairman of NEPAD Business Group, Nigeria and Dr. Baffour Agyemang Duah, UN Consultant to Tanzania.

Other international experts include Mrs. Irene Chingbue, Director General for Bureau for Public Enterprise, Nigeria, Bernad Esaue, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Namibia, Mr. Victor Asibodu, Executive Chairman of VIGO, and Mr. Tunde Lemo, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria.

The line up of more than 40 international and Ghanaian experts including Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Databank Financial Services, Mrs. Margaret Mwanakatwe, Ms Joyce Aryee and Dr. Mensah Otabil. Others include, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Foreign Affairs Minister, Capt. (Rtd) Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO of Unique Trust Financial Services and Mr. Robert Ahomkah- Lindsay, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

An investment forum on Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa and three plenary sessions on the topics, ‘Preparing for Tomorrow’, ‘Women in Leadership’ and ‘2010 World Cup in Africa’ will run alongside the main forum.

A Gala Diner, with an international fashion show as attraction, will be organised in honour of the participating African Heads of State and business leaders to close day one of this landmark leadership event. A presidential golf and tour of Ghana’s historic castles and kingdoms will climax this year’s ABLF on October 19, the third and final day.