Elevate Africa has concluded its 2026 Annual Convening in Accra, Ghana, with a series of continental commitments, strategic partnerships and initiatives aimed at advancing African leadership, economic collaboration and opportunities for the next generation.
A pan-African non-governmental organisation co-founded by Their Royal Majesties, His Royal Majesty Ogiamẹ Atuwatsé III, CFR, the 21st Olu of Warri, and Her Royal Majesty Olorì Atuwatsé III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom, Elevate Africa is committed to reshaping Africa’s self-image and global perception, building a dignified, empowered, and collaborative continent that stands tall as an equal contributor to global progress.
Held from 28–29 October 2026 under the theme “Africa: Defining Her Future,” the Convening brought together political leaders, investors, policymakers, traditional rulers, entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners and young Africans for high-level conversations on the continent’s future. Co-hosted with the Government of Ghana, the gathering provided a platform for African leaders and stakeholders to examine practical pathways towards stronger institutions, increased intra-African trade, a more competitive creative economy and meaningful youth participation in leadership and development.
The Convening builds on Elevate Africa’s previous gatherings in Abuja in 2024 and Gaborone in 2025, reflecting the organisation’s growing ambition to connect influential African leaders and institutions around shared priorities and initiatives that can advance the continent’s development.
Advancing African leadership and continental commitments
A major feature of the Convening was the Presidential Roundtable on Advancing African Leadership, which brought together H.E. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone; H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Nigeria; H.E. Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi; H.E. Dr. AmeenahGurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius; and H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Ghana, who participated in absentia.
The roundtable examined the responsibilities of African leadership in shaping the continent’s political, economic and institutional future, and provided the foundation for the Accra Declaration, a Declaration of Commitment containing 19 commitments across three broad areas: reparatory justice and the return of Global Africa; building a continent where Africans can move, work and prosper together; and strengthening leadership, public trust and opportunities for future generations.
Among the commitments are advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), promoting the free movement of Africans across the continent, strengthening diaspora engagement and investment, protecting African intellectual property, improving the governance of natural resources and expanding opportunities for young people, women and persons with disabilities.
The Declaration also establishes a mechanism for accountability, with Elevate Africa serving as its Secretariat and responsible for maintaining a record of commitments and individual pledges. Within twelve months, the Secretariat will prepare a progress report in consultation with signatories, to be presented at the next Convening.
Reflecting on the responsibility of African leadership, His Majesty Ogiamẹ Atuwatsé III, CFR, Co-Founder of Elevate Africa, observed:
“History will not judge us less by what we possessed than by what we built, less by what we inherited than by what we passed on.”
He further noted that Africa’s growing demographic significance must be matched by deliberate investments in its people, stronger institutions and opportunities that allow its citizens to contribute meaningfully to the continent’s development.
New platform for African trade and investment
In a significant development for the continent’s economic collaboration agenda, Elevate Africa unveiled its Trade Desk, a neutral platform designed to facilitate connections between credible investors, businesses, project owners and governments across Africa.
The Trade Desk will serve as a bridge for intra-African trade and investment, helping establish trust between potential partners, facilitate introductions and create opportunities for cross-border commercial engagement.
During the Convening, Elevate Africa also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). The agreement was signed by Her Majesty Olorì Atuwatsé III on behalf of Elevate Africa and Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Chairman of the Governing Board of GIPC.The collaboration will create opportunities for joint investment promotion activities, stakeholder engagements and platforms connecting investors with opportunities in Ghana, further strengthening the country’s position as an investment destination.
Strengthening Africa’s creative economy and cultural ownership
The creative economy featured prominently in the Convening’s conversations, particularly the need for African creators to retain ownership and economic value from the intellectual property, cultural assets and content they produce.
Opening the second day of the Convening, Her Majesty Olorì Atuwatsé III challenged delegates to move beyond celebrating African creativity and recognition, stating:
“Let us think beyond the museum traditions and the entertainment value of our creativity.”
Her Majesty called for a creative economy in which African creators have the ownership, financing, infrastructure and commercial opportunities required to build sustainable industries and compete globally.
This conversation was further advanced through the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize, an Elevate Africa initiative celebrating African textile heritage and encouraging creative storytelling around endangered and forgotten fabrics, garments and traditional techniques.
As part of the initiative’s continued development, Elevate Africa announced a strategic partnership with the Centre for Business Innovation, Entrepreneurialism and Management (CBEM) at National University. The partnership will provide the four prize winners with a year-long business mentorship programme covering fashion entrepreneurship, business development and expansion across the continent.
The winners are Adekola Emmanuel, winner; Irene Oniunu, first runner-up; Rebecca Agbragu, second runner-up; and Eyiwaa Agyekumhene, third runner-up. They will benefit from monthly group coaching, access to CBEM masterclasses and engagement with professionals across fashion, film, television, music and the wider creative economy.
Young Africans call for greater participation in shaping the continent
Youth participation and leadership were central to the second day of the Convening, with a high-level plenary bringing together young African leaders, development professionals, entrepreneurs and representatives of the private sector to discuss the role of young people in defining Africa’s future.
The discussions culminated in the presentation of the Youth Communiqué, delivered through a speech and rendition by Zahra Ahmed Ajetunmobi, UN SDG Advocate and Youth Ambassador, on behalf of the Elevate Africa Fellows and youth delegates.The communiqué sets out a clear call for young Africans to be recognised as active participants in governance, economic development and decision-making. It calls on African governments to provide
young people with meaningful access to finance, markets, institutional leadership and policymaking spaces, while urging traditional institutions, businesses and investors to create practical pathways for youth participation and enterprise development.
The young delegates also made commitments to build African businesses, invest in their communities,trade within the continent, uphold accountability and carry African culture into global markets.
In its closing message, the communiqué called on Elevate Africa to hold the document in trust, engage the institutions addressed and report on the actions taken ahead of the next Convening.
Elevate Africa’s continued commitment to continental leadership
For Elevate Africa, the 2026 Convening forms part of a broader institutional mission built around three interconnected pillars: leadership development, narrative transformation and catalytic innovation.
Through its flagship Elevate Africa Fellowship, the organisation brings together mid-career African professionals with the experience, networks and platforms to influence institutions, communities and discourse across the continent. Its work also supports Fellows in developing solutions to challenges within their communities, while advancing narratives that reflect Africa’s agency, capabilities and contributions.
The outcomes of the Accra Convening provide a framework for continued engagement with governments, traditional institutions, investors, businesses, development partners and young Africans. Through the Accra Declaration, the Trade Desk, its creative economy initiatives and its leadership development programmes, Elevate Africa intends to sustain the relationships and commitments established in Accra and support their progression beyond the Convening.
As Africa continues to define its place in the global economy and international affairs, Elevate Africa remains committed to creating platforms where African leaders can connect, collaborate and advance solutions that translate the continent’s potential into tangible progress.
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