VODAFONE African Business Leaders Forum launched

One of Africa’s most sought-after business conferences, the newly-christened Vodafone African Business Leaders Forum (ABLF), has been launched in Accra.

Started some eight years ago, the ABLF aims at addressing leadership issues in Africa through creating a conference platform for proactive and practical responses to current challenges.

The 2011 conference, which is in its 7th edition, is under the theme Enhancing Africa’s Business Opportunities through Effective Public-Private Partnerships, and will be held from November 10 to 12, 2011, in the Ghanaian capital, Accra

This year’s forum is being convened to create a platform for African business leaders within and outside the continent to brainstorm on the creation of opportunities out of the misfortunes that have been experienced by the continent over the past several years.

It will seek to advance the need for the pursuit of development and economic transformation for the continent.

ABLF 2011 will engender strategic collaborations between African business leaders on the continent and their compatriots in the Diaspora to revolutionise Africa’s developmental agenda for a massive socio-economic turnaround.

Over the past two or more decades, the continent has shown more dedication to changing its fortunes through improved leadership and sustainable developmental efforts.

The level of progress achieved so far is however a pointer to the fact that a lot more needs to be done.

In its World Economic Outlook Update, the IMF said most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have recovered quickly from the global financial crisis, with the region projected to grow 5½ percent in 2011.

Low income countries, which escaped the worst impacts of the global crisis, are expected to match pre-crisis growth rates of about 6½ percent in 2011. But the recovery in South Africa has been more subdued, restricting projected growth to about 3½ percent in 2011.

Domestic demand in most countries is being supported by automatic stabilisers, expansion in public investment and social support programs, and continued monetary accommodation. Growing trade ties with Asia are also playing a role in the region’s recovery, primarily through commodity markets.

One major concern raised in the report is that rising global fuel and food prices may have a significant impact on Africa in 2011.

While the effects of recent increases in world food prices have so far been small in Africa, because of good local harvests, the urban poor remain very vulnerable to rising food prices because of the high share of food in their consumption baskets.

This may increase pressure for additional support from government budgets.

Mr. Kyle Whitehill, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, said the company is proud to be associated with the forum - as the title sponsor - not because of the commercial opportunity that it provides, but to give back to society as part of demonstrating corporate social responsibility.

“As a corporate citizen in Ghana, we feel the responsibility to facilitate the meeting of some of the greatest minds across the African continent and their compatriots in the Diaspora to collectively discuss and debate a journey of new opportunities and success in the sphere of economic and social development for Africa,” he said.

Mr. Whitehill said strong vision and leadership were necessary to help countries grow and achieve the goals of economic transformation.

Mrs. Edith Dankwa, Executive Director, Business and Financial Times, said: “Over the years, the ABLF has assembled some of Africa’s most remarkable minds to discuss, debate and gain insights needed to achieve excellence in both private and public-sector organisations on the continent.

“ABLF boasts a line-up of notable leadership experts including captains of industry, presidents, professors, researchers and international experts who have made useful and thought-provoking presentations that continue to redefine leadership in Africa.”

She added: “The 2011 forum will seek to advance the need for the pursuit of development and economic transformation for the continent.

The forum is spearheaded by BIA Conferences, a leading pan-African conference-organiser, in partnership with Business and Financial Times, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Business Times Magazine.

The 2011 event will include 20 sessions on leadership learning, one-on-one meetings with African business leaders in Europe, African Women in Leadership workshop, among others.