Fifteen Ghanaian businesses are expected to participate in the inaugural Africa Forward Summit to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from May 11 to 12. The Ghanaian companies will be among an estimated two thousand others from across Africa and France attending the event.
It is the first time France is co-hosting an event of this nature and its first time with an English-speaking African country.
The first day of the summit, themed ‘Inspire and Connect’, will be a business forum to highlight economic partnerships between France and Africa and promote projects and initiatives between the African and French private sectors. There are more than 100 French businesses said to be operating in Kenya and more than 60 of such companies in Ghana.
At a media briefing in Accra ahead of the summit, the French Ambassador to Ghana, Diarra Dimé-Labille, explained that the summit forms part of President Emmanuel Macron’s quest to reshape France’s relationship with Africa.
“Since President Macron’s arrival in office, and under his leadership, you will note that he definitely has a new strategy and mission when it comes to the relationship between France and African countries,” Ambassador Dimé-Labille said. “It’s a different way of doing things. It’s a different way of seeing the relationship. And it’s also a way of ensuring that the relationship between France and African countries is not only focused on the people. Of course, those relations are very important.”
“Historically, the relationship between France and Francophone African countries is very strong, but it is also a way of saying that the world is evolving, the world is changing, and it is important to have a new kind of partnership. And for France, it’s also a way to say we need to stop focusing on only the Francophone African countries because France has a good and very strong relationships with other countries like Ghana. The vision of President Macron is a balanced partnership where we can learn from each other.”
Kenya’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Ishahilidza Shem Amadi said extra attention will be given to the business community at the summit. Among issues to be discussed, he noted, will be exploring new ways to improve public-private partnerships on the continent.
Referencing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Ambassador Amadi said the summit presents an opportunity to “navigate the things we should be doing in the African free trade continental area, things that will empower the region.”
The summit is expected to build on the 2021 Summit on the Financing of African Economies held in Paris, the New Global Financing Pact held in Paris in 2023, the Africa Climate Summit held in Nairobi in 2023, and the November 2025 European Union-African Union Summit held in Luanda.
A diverse group of participants ranging from political and business leaders, the youth, artists, civil society, and the diaspora are expected to attend as well as representatives from the African Union, European Union, international financial institutions and development banks, including the AFD Group.
Organisers say the event will highlight the commitment of Kenya, France, and other African countries to mutual investment as well as building and financing tangible solutions to common challenges like food sovereignty, energy access and connectivity and digital competitiveness while amplifying the voices of young leaders by showcasing their ideas for the future of the African continent.
Other sessions to be held during the two-day event include a discussion on reforming the international financial architecture to better mobilise private capital for Africa’s development, energy transition and green industrialisation, the blue (maritime) economy, sustainable agriculture, the youth and artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
Ghana’s president, John Mahama, will co-chair a session on building resilient healthcare systems building on his co-chairmanship of the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, in April this year. The session will focus on among others strengthening local production of vaccines and medicines.
Thirty African Heads of State are expected to attend the summit.
