With the aim of bringing together African leaders to discuss Africa’s development towards a self-sustaining future and focus on “Africa beyond aid”, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is set to organize an African Presidential Dialogue here in Accra.

The Inaugural Presidential Dialogue, brings together African Heads of State, traditional leaders, and leading actors in business, culture, media, arts, technology, innovation, as well as youth, women entrepreneurs, traders and environmental champions. Other subjects projected to be addressed include, intellectual an

d analytical insights for the new Africa Continental Free Trade Resource Centre (AfCFTA) to raise visibility and create momentum about Africa's vision for future prosperity, foster new partnerships and create allies for Africa's transformation agenda.

During a visit by UNDP, Conselier regional, Joseph U. Orji at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the event will be hosted by the president since he is the “top champion” when it comes to sustainable development goals.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Foreign Affairs Minister on her part said that Africa can be self-sufficient if we aim at achieving our sustainable goals. She indicated that the president is pushing to ensure that we become self-sufficient and industrialised to enhance participation in the free trade area to the benefit of our country.

Over 200 participants including senior UNDP leadership team in Africa are expected to grace the occasion in November. The presidential dialogue falls within UNDP’s strategic offer for Africa, to engage with African leaders and influencers, to drive sustainable development across the continent.

As part of the partnership strategy, UNDP recently launched the African Influencers for Development (AID) initiative, at the 74th UN General Assembly in New York. The AID initiative brought together powerful coalition of current and future African leaders in business, academia & the arts on one big platform to help Africa steer its own development agenda.