NEWS & MEDIA

New leadership panel pledges push on equality

July 18, 2019
Accra, 18 July. A panel of eminent persons from Africa and around the globe has pledged to champion key policy issues critical to Africa’s future, particularly gender equality, youth and leadership as drivers of economic transformation, with a focus on constructing a gender and transformation index.

Inaugurated on 16 July in Accra, the Transformation Leadership Panel (TLP) will work with regional bodies such as the African Union and the African Development Bank, as well as with global development organisations.

The TLP is an initiative of the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), whose founder, K.Y. Amoako, is a former executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Liberian President, is Chair of the panel.

Ghana’s Finance Minister, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, attended the meeting and emphasised the importance of jobs, particularly for Africa’s youth.

The TLP has been established to advocate on critical challenges facing the continent, notably climate change, demographics, innovation and regional integration. These are seen as areas where Africa’s leaders must take bold action to either avoid negative impacts, for example on climate change or the demographic bulge in many countries. Likewise, action on innovation and regional integration can take advantage of opportunities for transformative change.

Members of the TLP were selected based on their significant expertise in the focus areas, as well as proven leadership or commitment to African transformation strategies. Together, they form an influential group of change-makers who can galvanise action among African leaders and advocate for Africa on the global stage.

Speaking after the inaugural meeting, ACET Founder and President, Dr. K.Y. Amoako lauded the “sense of urgency” expressed by Panel members “individually and collectively to promote this agenda at the international level and most importantly at regional level in Africa and to actively engage with leaders and key stakeholders to move that agenda forward.”

In addition to H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Dr. K.Y. Amoako, panel members include Masood Ahmed, President of the Center for Global Development; Dolika Banda, non-executive Director of the CDC Group and CEO of African Risk Capacity; Charles Boamah, Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank; and Ann Cotton, OBE, Founder and Trustee of Camfed International.

Other members are Bineta Diop, a prominent women’s rights activist; Rebecca Enonchong, Founder & CEO of AppsTech & I/O Spaces; Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Vice President for Africa; Acha Leke, McKinsey and Company’s Africa Region Chair; and Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, former prime minister of Niger & CEO, New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

Other members are James Mwangi, Managing Director & CEO of Equity Group Holdings; Ndidi Nwuneli, Founder of Leap Africa; Reeta Roy, President & CEO of the Mastercard Foundation; Gayle Smith, President and CEO of the ONE Campaign; and Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

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