ROYAL PROTOCOL
Arrival & Reception of Their Majesties
Their Royal Majesties of the Warri Kingdom
ELEVATE AFRICA CONVENING 2026 · ACCRA
LIVE BROADCASTAfrica: Defining Her Future.
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Governance, Leadership, Trade & Economic Opportunity
PRESIDENTIAL PROTOCOL
Arrival & Reception of Heads of State
The President of Ghana and invited Heads of State
Official Opening Ceremony
Cultural procession and ceremonial entry of Their Royal Majesties, followed by the Ghana National Anthem and the Warri Anthem
Cultural Performance
Saaji Pii Cultural Troupe
Convening Introduction
Overview of Elevate Africa and the History of
the Convening Wangechi Wanjohi, Partnership & Community Engagement Advisor, Elevate Africa
Opening Remarks
His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, 21st Olu of Warri
Welcome Remarks
Hon. Ebi Bright, Mayor of Tema
Goodwill Message
His Royal Majesty Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, Osu Mantse, Paramount Chief of the Osu Traditional Area, Accra
Goodwill Message
H.E. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone
Goodwill Message
His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Mantse
Keynote Remarks
H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Former President of Nigeria
Keynote Remarks
H.E. Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius
Keynote Remarks
H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, Former President of Ghana
Keynote Remarks
H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone
Keynote Address
H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana
PRESIDENTIAL ROUNDTABLE
Advancing African Leadership
Waihiga Mwaura, Journalist & BBC News Presenter MODERATOR H.E. Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius H.E. Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Former President of Nigeria
LAUNCH
Elevate Africa Trade Desk Launch
Sarah Goroh & Dr. Rex Idaminabo
LUNCH & NETWORKING
INVITE ONLY · RUNS IN PARALLEL
The Power Room
A high-level roundtable convening government leaders, investors and strategic partners to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration and investment.
Thought Leadership Address
Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Executive Chairman and Founder, Africa Prosperity Network (APN)
Thought Leadership Address
Mr. Akwasi Opong-Fosu, Chairman of the Governing Board, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)
HIGH-LEVEL PANEL
AfCFTA — Trade Governance, Implementation & the Road
to 2034 Prof. Ernest Kofi Abotsi, Dean, UPSA Law School MODERATOR Dr. Tei Kitcher, Senior Trade Economist, Office of the Secretary-General, AfCFTA Aisha Maina, CEO, Aquarian Consults Hon. Ahmed Rostom, Minister of Planning, Arab Republic of Egypt Hon. Kadiva Diana Hamutumwa, Governor, Ohangwena Region, Namibia Mr. Mohammed Usman Abdul-Razaq, Deputy Director and Head, Capital Mobilisation & Partnerships, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Mr. Peter Musola, Senior Country Manager for Ghana, Kenya Airways
SIGNING
MOU Signing with the Board Chairman of the Ghana
Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC)
Yvonne Ike, Managing Director & Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Bank of America
PLENARY
Doing Business in Africa
Peter Jolapamo, Managing Partner, Alirity MODERATOR Ms. Fope Adelowo, Principal, Helios Investment Partners; Co-Lead, Digital Ventures Fund, Lagos, Nigeria Alexander Karam, Impact Investor, KCA Africa Mr. Simon Madjie, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Mr. Evans Adanya, Development Principal, Africa50 Mobility Mr. Mohamed Mostafa El Sallab, Head, Industry Committee, Egyptian Parliament
DAY 1 CLOSING
Priorities, Pledges & Setting the Tone for Day 2
Anita Erskine
Creative Economy, Youth, Diaspora & Action
Arrivals
DAY 2 OPENING ADDRESS
The Intersection of African Tradition, Creativity & Trade
Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, Co-founder, Elevate Africa
Keynote Address
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ghana
Goodwill Message
Nicole Asinugo, The Osahon Okunbo Foundation
HIGH-LEVEL PLENARY
From Soft Power to Hard Currency — Africa’s Music, Film,
Fashion & Digital Content as Strategic Trade Connie Alouch, Award Winning Stylist and Creative Economy Entrepreneur MODERATOR Roberta Annan, Founder, African Fashion Foundation Modupe Fadugba, Multi-media Artist Ms. Clara Pinkrah-Sam, Founder & Creative Director, Clatural, Ghana Dr. Syleecia Thompson, Centre for Business Innovation, Entrepreneurialism & Management (CBEM), National University Wakiuru Njuguna, Managing Partner, HEVA Fund
Threads of Africa Competition Overview &
Awards Announcement Ama Ofeibea Tetteh, Founder & Lead Consultant, Chapter54 CHIEF JUDGE
Threads of Africa Partnership Announcements
Dr. Syleecia Thompson, Director, Centre for Business Innovation, Entrepreneurialism & Management (CBEM), National University
Threads of Africa Awards Presentation
Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III & the Judges
A dedicated pause for informal networking, connection and engagement.
Keynote Address
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ghana
Goodwill Message
Kofi Okyere-Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, Ghana
HIGH-LEVEL PLENARY
Africa & Her Diaspora — Reconnecting with Who We Are
Sandra A. Babu-Boateng, Co-Founder & CEO, Face2Face Africa MODERATOR Mr. Robb Pitts, Chairman, Fulton County Board of Commissioners Representative Kim Schofield, Georgia House of Representatives Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE, Founder & President, Grow, Unite, Build, Africa Group Holdings, Ghana Hon. Samar El Abdal, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation, Egypt
PLENARY KEYNOTE
Building With Africa’s Young People
Gbovadeh Gbillia, Education Policy & Leadership Expert; Former Deputy Minister of Education, Liberia
HIGH-LEVEL PLENARY
Africa’s Young Leaders: Defining Her Future Now
Nadia Ahmed Abdalla Mwidau, Founder and Executive Director, NAA’M Initiative (EA Fellow) MODERATOR Kalkidan Tedesse Deribe, Development & Finance Professional (EA Fellow) Ama Y. Adi-Dako Seidu, Storyteller, Producer, Development Strategist Zahra Ahmed Ajetunmobi, UN SDG Advocate & Youth Ambassador Ms. Georgia Akuwudike, Director of Operations, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Amazon Richard Nii Okai, Director of Programs and Learning, Emerging Public Leaders
Youth Communiqué Speech & Rendition
Zahra Ahmed Ajetunmobi, UN SDG Advocate & Youth Ambassador
Accra Declaration & Signing
Lunch and networking with Their Majesties and convening leaders.
Breakout Sessions
Three focused conversations run concurrently alongside the invite-only Power Room. ROOM 1 · INVITE ONLY Beyond the AI Hype: Architecting a Digital Sovereignty and AI Governance Strategy for Africa Mrs. Titi Akinsumni, Founder, Demistef.ai Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Founder & CEO, Rise Networks ROOM 2 Skills that Last: Building Youth-to- Work Pathways in the Age of AI Axum Earth ROOM 3 From Leadership Development to Leadership in Practice Nana Darko Asiedu, Country Director, ALX Ghana EA Fellows & EPL Fellows INVITE ONLY The Power Room A high-level roundtable convening government leaders, investors and strategic partners.
Closing Remarks & Convening Wrap-up
Kings’ Banquet
Hosted by Their Royal Majesties
Convening themes
Trade Governance & Economic Integration
AfCFTA implementation, digital trade, trade finance, investment and value-chain development.
Governance, Leadership & Advocacy
Leadership, policy, institutional collaboration and the relationship between traditional and formal leadership.
Creative Economy & Soft Power
Music, film, fashion, sport and digital content as drivers of economic value, cultural influence and Africa’s global narrative.
Youth Leadership & Opportunity for Young Africans
Youth participation in governance, entrepreneurship, innovation and access to the networks and capital needed to shape Africa’s future.
The Diaspora
Diaspora investment, expertise, networks, cultural influence and stronger Africa–diaspora connections.
Key convening outputs
- Accra Declaration and call to action
- Youth and women’s leadership recommendations
- Partnership, investment and institutional collaboration opportunities