Collaboration, Mentorship Key to Advancing Women’s Participation in AfCFTA - Vice-Chancellor Prof. Amfo at APD 2026

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has underscored the importance of collaboration, mentorship and targeted capacity building in strengthening women and youth participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Prof. Amfo made these remarks during day one of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2026, organised by the Africa Prosperity Network and held under the theme “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate. Collaborate. Trade.” 

She joined a high-level panel discussion titled “From Boardrooms to Borders: Women Driving the AfCFTA Agenda,” alongside distinguished leaders, including Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Esq., Deputy Chief of Staff (Finance and Administration), Office of the President and Pearl Nkrumah, Managing Director of Access Bank PLC, among other prominent women leaders.

The Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2026 brings together policymakers, investors, innovators, entrepreneurs and diaspora leaders to unlock the transformative potential of SMEs, women and youth within Africa’s single market. 

The platform seeks to promote collaboration, showcase scalable solutions and address barriers to inclusive trade, particularly at a time when SMEs account for nearly 80 percent of employment across Africa but continue to face an estimated US$331 billion financing gap, while women entrepreneurs receive less than 2 percent of venture capital funding.