The fourth African Prosperity Dialogues will begin on Tuesday at the Accra International Conference Centre with strategic emphasis on empowering small and medium-sized enterprises, women, and youth across the continent. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, confirmed the focus during an interview on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday.
Otchere-Darko emphasized that SMEs drive 90% of Africa’s economic activity and account for approximately 80% of employment across the continent. He stated that women lead trade within the informal sector and operate nearly 30% of registered companies, positioning their empowerment as central to Africa’s economic integration agenda.
The 2026 edition carries the theme “Empower SMEs, Women, and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate, Trade.” Otchere-Darko explained that the theme reflects a deliberate effort to ensure African women and youth understand the direct connection between continental economic integration and their careers and future prospects.
The three-day event will feature specialized workshops on SME financing, youth dialogues, women’s entrepreneurship sessions, and cross-border business scaling strategies. Participating institutions include banks, non-governmental organizations, and industry leaders from multiple African countries.
The conference is expected to attract over 6,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including policymakers, business leaders, and investors. The event will also host the launch of the Make Africa Borderless Now campaign, which aims to collect 10 million signatures to pressure governments to implement free movement and trade commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Additional sessions will address fintech innovations, youth-led creative industries, and implementation of continental trade protocols. The APD 2026 will conclude with a Presidential Business Leaders Dialogue featuring heads of state and institutional leaders.
