High-Level Public Forum on Regional
Development in West Africa
Introduction and Objectives
The Research & Communications Unit of “Africa in Focus”
(Radio XYZ) plans to host a two-day high-level public forum on “ECOWAS
integration; regional security; and the role of Rwanda in promotion of
intra-African tourism” in Accra, on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September, 2014 at
Eastgate Hotel.
The forum will bring together a group of around ten that include
senior policy officials, civil society leaders, researchers and community
leaders to discuss ongoing debates around ECOWAS integration; regional peace
and security; the informal economy; and efforts to promote intra-African trade
with the view of providing the necessary public support to these initiatives.
The involvement of these stakeholders in the advocacy efforts around ECOWAS and
African integration efforts is not only important but very urgent. The theme of
the forum is “enhancing public knowledge and engagement on regional
development in West Africa”.
The forum has the following specific objectives:
1. Increase participants’ and
public knowledge and engagement on ongoing ECOWAS integration efforts on energy
security in the region and across the continent; and their implications for
Ghana;
2. Discuss recent initiatives by
ECOWAS and its stakeholders on West African integration efforts; regional peace
and security; and East Africa on facilitating tourism in Africa
Background
"Africa in Focus" (AIF) is a brand-new two-hour
discussion show that has been live-on-air every Tuesday since May 2014 on
award-winning Radio XYZ93.1FM. Aired from 13h10 to 15h00 GMT, it is dedicated
to telling Africa's story by educating and informing listeners on developments
around manifold sectors in ECOWAS member states; the African Union and its
institutions; and the AU's relationship with the Global South, including the
BRIC countries.
It remains the only show on Ghanaian radio that seeks to shed
light on untold stories of the manifold personalities; and institutions
populating the African continent, as well as what the African private sector is
doing to contribute to Africa's equitable growth.
It is hosted by Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr, who also heads the
Research & Communications Unit. It has been meeting every week at Eastgate
Hotel with the Business Desk to monitor and evaluate previous editions of AIF
show; explore progress on the direction of the research component of the
"Africa in Focus" show; the state of communication instruments
(facebook; twitter; google plus community); how far weekly activities are
contributing to enriching the Unit's monitoring of African integration dynamics
of ECOWAS; the AU; and Africa's engagement with members of the Global
South.
Finally, the meetings have sought to undertake innovative strategies to further-educate the public on Africa's development. The High-Level Forum is one of the Unit’s innovative strategies on educating about Africa.
Finally, the meetings have sought to undertake innovative strategies to further-educate the public on Africa's development. The High-Level Forum is one of the Unit’s innovative strategies on educating about Africa.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The first edition of the "Africa in
Focus" show was on Tuesday 6 May at 14h00. Entitled "EPAs and Matters
Arising", it featured three(3) guests at the studio –Kingsley
Ofei-Nkansah of the Economic Justice Network, and General Agricultural
Worker's Union; Franklin Cudjoe of think-tank IMANI, who is an
ardent advocate of Ghana signing the EPAs; and Frank Ofei -- a
former ECOWAS official during 1980s and 1990s, with experience on the revision of the 1975 ECOWAS Treaty,
establishment of the ECOWAS single currency, coordination of implementation of
NEPAD in West Africa, private sector participation in the West African
integration process, ECOWAS relations with the African Union particularly
concerning the implementation of the African Economic Community (AEC) treaty,
and ECOWAS negotiation of economic arrangements with other third parties (the
European Union, World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank.
Other editions of the show have focused on:
· Peace & Security in West
Africa
·
Africa’s integration
·
The state of Civil
Society in West Africa
·
East Africa versus
West Africa
·
The informal economy
in Africa
·
African solutions to
African problems
·
Energy Security in
West Africa
Participation
Participants at the first-ever forum will be drawn from the
private sector; policy think tanks; and civil society organisations. The types
of actors to be drawn into this forum will enable the Research &
Communications Unit to strengthen relations with current stakeholders and
establish new relations with relevant stakeholders in support of many of the
development-related issues tackled on the weekly “Africa in Focus” show.
Format
Moderated by host of, and Head of Research & Communications
of AIF, it is an opportunity to revisit and amplify some of the major topics
covered over the past three months of the show. The idea is to encourage
greater public engagement of the issues. The Forum is expected to start at
10:00am and end at 3:00pm with lunch for invited guests. There will be one coffee/tea break,
separating the two segments. Below is the agenda.
Day ONE – 4 September, 2014; Venue: Eastgate Hotel, East Legon
|
Time
|
Activity
|
|
|
10:00am
|
Introduction &
rationale of the Forum & moderation
|
Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr
|
|
10:05am
|
What is ECOWAS, and where
should it be by 2015?
|
Mr.
Frank Ofei – CONFIRMED
|
|
10:20am
|
Towards a more
equitable ECOWAS integration
|
Kingsley Ofei-Nkansah, GAWU -- CONFIRMED
|
|
10:35:00 AM
|
COFFEE
BREAK
|
|
|
10.50am
|
Facilitating free movement in
ECOWAS with private sector
|
Mrs.Afua Eshun, BORDERLESS ALLIANCE – CONFIRMED
|
|
11.05am
|
Promoting intra-African trade with agriculture
|
Edison
Ade Gbenga, AgriPro Consulting – CONFIRMED
|
|
11.20am
|
Comments, Questions and Answers
|
|
|
11.30am
|
KEY
NOTE presentation: Understanding the role
of Civil society organization engagement in ECOWAS
|
Nana
Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director, WACSI – CONFIRMED
|
|
12.00pm
|
Questions
|
All
|
|
12.10pm
|
The role of the Youth in
ECOWAS member States
|
Rauf
Kadri, Programmes Manager, Ghana Integrity Youth Campaign– CONFIRMED
|
|
12.50pm
|
Questions
|
All
|
|
13.00pm
|
Snacks
& Drink
|
|
|
14.00pm
|
International Best
Practices in the Informal Sector: Towards Regulation in Ghana
|
Executive Secretary of GHASALC Eunice Marfo – CONFIRMED
|
|
14.15pm
|
International Best Practices
in the Informal Sector: Towards an Ethical Code of Conduct
|
Edmund
Benjamin-Addy, GHASCA representative – CONFIRMED
|
|
14.30pm
|
Comments, Questions and Answers
|
|
|
15.00pm
|
Lunch
for invited guests & End of Day One
|
|
DAY TWO – 5 September, 2014; Venue: Eastgate Hotel, East Legon
|
Time
|
Activity
|
|
|
10:00am
|
Summary of Day One
|
Rapporteur / E.K.Bensah
Jr
|
|
10:05am
|
Towards Afri-Tourism: Making Ghana a viable tourist destination
|
Kofi
Akpabli, CNN-award-winning journalist -- CONFIRMED
|
|
10:20am
|
Rwanda; and Best Practices on
Tourism
|
Ignatius Ahimbisbiwe, Rwandair, Accra – CONFIRMED
|
|
10:35:00 AM
|
COFFEE
BREAK
|
|
|
10.50am
|
KEY NOTE presentation :Peace & Security in West Africa: Boko Haram and the role of
ECOWAS in the Way Forward
|
Programmes Manager Stella Attakpah, GIABA, Dakar – PRESENTATION AVAILABLE
|
|
11.05am
|
Energy Security in West
Africa: ERERA; WAPP; and the role of ECOWAS
|
Uwem
Thompson, Ecowas Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), Accra – CONFIRMED
|
|
11.20am
|
Comments & Questions
|
|
|
11.30am
|
Role of research in
facilitating peace & security in West Africa
|
KAIPTC
rep (tbc)
|
|
11.45
|
Role of Civil society
in facilitating peace & security in West Africa
|
Abdulai Diallo, West Africa Network on Peacebuilding(WANEP) CONFIRMED
|
|
12.00pm
|
Comments
& questions
|
|
|
13.00pm
|
Snacks
& Drinks
|
|
|
14.00pm
|
Updates
from #EbolaWatch
|
Kobby
Blay
|
|
14.15pm
|
Presentation of AIF Volunteer Scheme
|
E.K.Bensah Jr
|
|
14.30pm
|
Close
& Lunch for invited guests
|
|
Expected Outcomes
The public forum is expected to achieve the following outcomes:
a) Increased
knowledge and engagement on ECOWAS integration; intra-African trade; regional
peace & security; energy security; the informal economy; and East Africa
b) Increased
and diversified public support for ECOWAS and its institutions; KAIPTC and its
work; the countries of Rwanda and its best practices on tourism
c) Strengthen
and nurture collaborative links among key stakeholders for the purpose of
advancing the goals of ECOWAS; free movement; energy security; and East Africa
in Africa's integration
REGISTRATION FEES
(GHS)
|
EARLY BIRD
|
CORPORATE/
EMBASSIES
|
CC S
STUDENTS
SEC
|
STUDENTS
TERTIARY
|
WALK
IN
|
|
|||||
|
70GHC
|
90GHC
|
40GHC
(30GHC-EARLY-bird)
|
50GHC
(40GHC-EARLY-bird)
|
50GHC/day
|
|
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|
120GHC (2days)
|
180GHC(2
days)
|
|
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|
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