Inspiring Africans into True Leadership

The annual calendar event, the GPA Awards & Conference will take place once again at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, Bayswater London, on Saturday, 5th July, 2008. The theme for the conference & awards is: “Promoting a Paradigm shift: Leadership & Business in Africa”.

The GPA Conference which will precede the awards will be held from 10am to 4pm. The awards start at 7.30pm till 11.30pm. The aim of the GPA conference & awards is to address the current leadership development challenge facing Africa and attempt to provide workable solutions to mitigate this challenge. It will also endeavour to provide insights to business leaders in a rapidly changing global economy as well as equip emerging leaders in Africa and the Diaspora with the knowledge tools required to lead in the global millennia. The GPA Awards will seek to provide a platform to stimulate and inspire, celebrate the best in African leadership and attempt to equip future leaders with the knowledge and skills need.

Commenting on the Conference the GPA Founder Emelia Bartels said: “The GPA Conference will seek to educate, challenge, inform and influence as well as develop mindsets towards positive and good leadership in Africa. We also aim to use the conference to raise the profile of Africa’s negative leadership stereotype by showing positive examples of growth and development through the speakers represented.”

She went on to say “For a decade’s Africa has been saddled with the negative image of growth, development and leadership. The conference will endeavour to find innovative ways to effectively harness and leverage the immense but largely untapped and under-utilised Diasporian resources to implement leadership/capacity building initiatives in Africa. It will also aim find synergy with other leadership initiatives in Africa and developmental organisations to promote positive leadership”

As Africa’s great leader Nelson Mandela Said “Africa is beyond bemoaning the past for its problems. The task of undoing the past is on the shoulders of Africans themselves, with the support of those willing to join in a continental renewal. We have a new generation who know that Africa must take responsibility for its own destiny, that Africa will uplift itself by its own efforts in partnership with those who wish her well” Keynotes & Special Guests.

Several High Profile Africans will be addressing both the conference and Awards. Confirmed Special Guests and speakers include HE Mr Annan Cato, Ghana High Commissioner to the UK & Ireland, Dr Ekow Spio Garbrah, CEO of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, Dr Bamanga Tukur, Chairman NEPAD Group and President African Business Roundtable, Margaret Mwanakatwe, MD for Barclays Ghana, Dr Ken Ife International Consultant for African Business Roundtable, Mary Boakye, partner at Denton Wilde & Sapte, Tutu Agyare Investment Banker, Samia Nkrumah, Journalist & Broadcaster and Daughter of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president & visionary, Hon Oboshie Sai Cofie, Ghana’s Minister for Tourism & Diasporian initiatives, And Dr Nkosana Moyo, Partner Actis Africa, Alex Banful CEO of GSFM and many more.

Who should attend?

The GPA is targeting Non-resident professionals of African origin or “Diasporian Africans”, Entrepreneurs & Business People of African Origin, People with a professional interest in the development of Africa; African Professionals and businesses with personal interest in African Political & Business arena. They are also encouraging leading industry experts with interest in Africa, voluntary organisations with interests in Africa and International Development Organisations to attend.

Entertainment

Exclusive live performance by gospel sensation Sonnie Badu & Saxophonist Almighty Justine. New MK- UK R& B and Rapp artists B-Kay & Kazz & Rapp UK Artist Gedalucci, is said to take The GPA young people by storm with its newly introduced “After party” for young people to celebrate achievers. The after party starts at 11.30pm to 4.am. The limited after party tickets will be released in 2nd week of June after the “early birds” offer finishes on 14th June. It’s going to be a night of excellence honouring achievement and promoting Leadership.

Other entertainment for the night includes cultural & traditional dancing and fashion show by Kosibah Creations newly introduced clothing line- Yemi O. For those of you who like to have a good time, you can dance the night away till 4am at the after party. After the huge success of last year, this year only proves to be another landmark year for the GPA Conference & Awards!

For booking go to www.gpaawards.com/booking.html

For Nominations & Conference contact

Ruth Amarquaye Nominations & Conference coordinator email: ruth@gpaawards.com phone: +44(0)870 446 4472 Mobile: +44(0)7958 545 653

For Sponsorship Contact Joanne Bartels Events Coordinator email:joanne@gpaawards.net phone: +44(0)870 446 4472 Mobile:+44 (0)7947 860 953