Kufuor becomes second Ghanaian to join African Dev’t Bank’s Eminent Speakers Programme

Former Ghanaian President John A. Kufuor has joined the African Development Bank (AfDB) Eminent Speakers Programme, the Bank announced June 27, 2012.

Mr Kufuor becomes the second Ghanaian to join the AfDB’s Programme. The first was former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr Kingsley Y. Amoako.

The Eminent Speakers Series, according to the Bank is a knowledge center, with the capacity to propose solutions to Africa’s problems, based, inter alia, on documented experiences of those who know the continent and believe that its development is possible and achievable sooner rather than later.

The AfDB said Mr Kufuor, a World Food Prize winner, will take the podium on the 18th occasion of the Programme on July 6, 2012 in Tunis to deliver a speech based on the theme “Challenges and Opportunities of Entrepreneurship Capacity Development in Africa”.

“A key motivation for Mr Kufuor’s choice of topic for the programme is the need to take stock and reflect on important environmental, economic and other factors that are impeding the growth of African entrepreneurial firms,” the Bank explained.

Mr Kufuor’s presentation represents an opportunity for rich exchanges on how, through strengthened engagements among our tertiary institutions, the public and private sector, the prospects for achieving higher and sustained growth of start-ups and knowledge-based MSMEs can be enhanced, it added.

Since its inception in March 2006, the AfDB Eminent Speakers Programme has attracted 17 eminent global citizens who addressed almost 5,000 invited participants. Notable figures who have graced the Programme are Kenneth Kaunda, former President of Zambia, former MD of the IMF, Michel Camdessus, Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate, the Late Wangari Maathai and others.

By Ekow Quandzie