Akufo-Addo to address GEF 2019 today

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will address business leaders and policy makers today at the official opening of this year’s Ghana Economic Forum (GEF) 2019.

The one-day event being held on Wednesday, Oct 30, 2019 at Tang Palace Hotel, Roman Ridge on the theme: ‘Sustaining Macroeconomic Stability through the Election Cycles: The 2020 Test Case”, brings together over 300 key business leaders and policy makers under one roof to deliberate on how the country can avoid the slippery path of economic slippages in election year 2020.

President Akufo-Addo will set the tone for the deliberations after which there will be three plenary sessions and three break-away session during the day.

The first plenary session between 10am and 11am will address the theme: “Sustaining Macroeconomic Stability through the Election Cycles: The 2020 Test Case”. Panelists for the session include: Ken Ofori Atta, Minister for Finance; Mr. Kwame Pianim, Economist; Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor, Bank of Ghana; Prof. Peter Quartey, Director, ISSER University of Ghana; Dr. Albert Touna Mama, IMF Country Rep; and Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, President, Association of Ghana Industries. This session is to be moderated by Bernard Avle.

The Second Plenary Session from 11:30am – 12:35pm, will address the topic: Bridging Ghana’s Financing gap through domestic capital generation. Panelists include: Mr. Jeff Gable-Head of Research, Absa (Barclays) Group; Mr. Yofi Grant – CEO, GIPC; Mr. Danladi Verheijen – CEO, Verod Capital Management; Mr. Ammisshaddai Owusu-Amoah-Director General, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA); and Prof. Eric Osei-Assibey, Assoc. Professor, Economics Dept. University of Ghana. Mr. J.N Halm will moderate the session.

One of the breakaway sessions will deal with how the country can Develop Sustainable Infrastructure for growth in a modern economy. Panelists for the session include: Joe Ghartey, Ministry for Railways Development; Mr. Lawrence Agyinsam – EXIM Bank; Mr. Mohamed Samara – CEO, MPS Ghana; and Vince Onyejeli, Head KPMG Africa.

The rich cross-fertilization of ideas from a wide array of accomplished professionals is what makes the GEF a leading forum that discusses pertinent economic and financial issues and proffers advice to the powers that be on creating a conducive environment for businesses, since it is long-held that the private sector is the engine of growth.

We can expect a lively and engaging forum with some frank discussions on the economy, the business environment, and the general state of the nation today, and where we would all like it to be in the years to come says Dr Edith Dankwa, CEO of the Business and Financial Times

The GEF has proven, with its track record over the years, that the role of the media is not only to inform, educate and entertain, but to set a platform and agenda where critical thinkers and discerning minds would meet and come out with policies that will make this country the Ghana we want, she said