In a Keynote Statement delivered on her behalf by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa’s Executive Director Dr. Aggrey Agumya, the African Union’s Commissioner for Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, HE Ambassador Josefa Sacko calls on African state Leaders and High-Level Business Executives for collaborative efforts to address Africa’s food security and boost agribusiness during the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024 hosted by the President of Ghana H.E Nana Akuffo Addo at the Peduase Presidential Lodge in Accra.
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa’s Executive Director Dr. Aggrey Agumya delivering the Keynote speech on behalf of the AUC-DARBE Commissioner H.E Amb. Josefa Sacko.
“Your Excellencies, this reality has compelled us to rethink our approach and take decisive actions. It’s time to break free from the chains of dependency and create a resilient and self-sustaining agricultural ecosystem,” her speech read, rallying African governments and the private sector to support the African Union’s Common African Agro-Parks Programme (CAAPs) initiative, which aligns with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The initiative was developed in collaboration with key High-Level partners on the continent, the AUDA-NEPAD, AfCFTA, AFREXIMBANK, and FARA. The CAAPs initiatve has gained momentum “with two Demonstration Projects set to commence this year— the Zambia-Zimbabwe CAAP for maize and dairy products, and the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana CAAP for Cocoa transformation” her speech read.
These projects are the steppingstones to the establishment of the five large agro-industrial zones with transboundary mega agro-industries and food supply corridors, strategically positioned in each of the five geographical regions of Africa that will reshape the landscape of African agriculture,” she noted.
Dr. Aggrey Agumya (FARA) with the Executive Secretary of the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative, a panel speaker at the High-Level Panel II of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues
“CAAPs represents more than just a development initiative; they embody the resilience, determination, and collective will of the African continent to control its destiny. Our request for your full support and blessing is not just for the CAAPs but for a future where Africa leads in agriculture, agro-industrialization, and economic prosperity” she added.
A section of High-Level Delegates at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024
Assuring the participating audience of its high success rate, H.E Amb. Sacko says stakeholders “can establish a vibrant business platform under the CAAPs, utilizing the instruments of the AfCFTA to secure our place in the global food market.”
Therefore, “CAAPs are not just a roadmap; they are the vehicle for an agro-industrial revolution that Africa urgently needs. Let us pledge our commitment to this vision, supporting the CAAPs as the flagship program of the AU Agenda 2063”.
Dr. Aggrey Agumya
Dr. Aggrey Agumya on the choice of FARA as secretariat for the CAAPs, reiterated the role of FARA as the apex continental organization responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research for development (AR4D) in Africa while serving as the technical arm of the Africa Union Commission on matters concerning agriculture science, technology and innovation.
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed the congregation as well. He took the chance to commend all participants in attendance and the organizers, the Africa Prosperity Network for putting together such an important and unique platform for the deliberation and discussion of comprehensive policies aimed at boosting intra-African Trade. He also announced Ghana’s commitment to implement a visa-free policy for all Africans traveling to the country in 2024.
The President disclosed that the government has initiated processes to implement the policy within the year.
H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, the President of the 4th Republic of Ghana
He stated that “I know that many of you had to acquire a visa to come to this event; we made a special arrangement for this conference. We reduced the visa acquisition fee by 50%, and we were thus able to receive your visa on arrival. The Government of Ghana is committed to ensuring visa-free access for all Africans travelling into our country, and the process has begun to implement the policy this year.”
A section of High-Level Delegates and the President of Ghana at the africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN) in collaboration with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat hold The Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2024, at the Peduase Presidential Lodge in Aburi, Ghana from January 25th to the 27th, hosting top business leaders, heads of international development institutions, social change markers, including heads of states among other diplomatic delegations. A few honorable mentions are the Ex-President of the Republic of Mozambique, Joachim Chissano, Executive Secretary of the AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, Dr Amany Asfour, the President of the Africa Business Council, Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, the assistant Director General of the FAO, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture Ghana, Dr. Ibrahim Mahama, Mme. Patricia Poku-Diaby among others.
Get more information on the CAAPs initiative via:
Anselme Vodounhessi – [email protected]
Benjamin Abugri – [email protected]
www.faraafrica.org/caaps
See more photos from the APD 2024 here
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