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Economist Impact announces speakers for Sustainability Week Africa

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Economist Impact has announced speakers for the inaugural Sustainability Week Africa scheduled to take place from Thursday, October 24 to Friday, October 25, 2024.

The two-day conference will bring together Pan-African and global leaders in-person at The Westin, Cape Town, South Africa.

The conference themed ‘‘Africa’s green industrial revolution’ is set to bring more than more than 500 delegates and 100 speakers to explore strategies towards a successful Pan-African sustainability initiative.

The Sustainability week Africa Is part of a successful series of sustainability events by the Economist Impact. The conference will focus on “Africa’s green industrial revolution” plus conversations on changing how businesses operate to achieve their sustainability goals.

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In addition, the conference will delve into the areas of business and investment, providing original insights and solutions on how companies can support the continent in driving green growth, while avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

Vijay Vaitheeswaran, the Global Energy and Climate innovation editor at The Economist will deliver the opening remarks, followed by keynote addresses from Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Tolupe Lewis Tamoka, Chief, Government Relations and Africa at the United Nations Global Compact.

With more than 500 delegates and 100 speakers confirmed, Sustainability Week Africa will welcome many figures from the sustainability community, including governmental officials, global investors and senior executives from key sectors such as retail, transportation, logistics, food and beverages, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, technology, finance, science, and civil society.

There will be other globally renowned speakers who will focus on Africa’s role as a global sustainability leader and explore strategies for enhancing Africa’s appeal to international investors, discussing insights from successful Pan-African sustainability initiatives.

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The list of speakers expected at the Sustainability Week Africa include:

Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP29
Carl Hermann Gustav Schlettwein, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Republic of Namibia
Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive Officer, Eskom
Stéphanie Mbombo, Presidential Special Envoy for New Climate Economy, Democratic Republic of Congo
Feroz Koor, Group Sustainability Officer, Woolworths Group
Mandisa Mabaso, Country Manager, South Africa, Rio Tinto
Barend Petersen, Executive Chairman, De Beers Group South Africa, Deputy Chair, Mining 2030 and Representative, Archbishop of Cape Town
Noluthando Gosa, Independent Non-Executive Director, MTN Group, Executive Director, Akhona Group, and Adviser, Sustainability Week Africa
Mpho Makwana, Former Chairman, Nedbank, Eskom and ArcelorMittal South Africa, Chairman, Epitome Investment, and Adviser, Sustainability Week Africa
Joseph Nganga, Vice President for Africa, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and Adviser, Sustainability Week Africa
Vaughan Pierce, Chief Sustainability Officer, Pick n Pay

The programme will explore a variety of topics, including opportunities for the continent to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and increase its share of the global value chain.

Discussions will also centre on sustainable growth for small businesses and suppliers across the continent, addressing the compatibility of sustainability with population growth and its implications for food security.

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In addition, the event will highlight the potential of green jobs and explore collaborations between companies and the African youth and explore biodiversity’s crucial role in Africa and the benefits of intra-African trade for advancing sustainability.

Sustainability Week Africa will also include a CSO leaders club, curated networking sessions and cross-industry sessions aimed at leveraging synergies.

Sponsors of Sustainability Week Africa include Woolworths, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Boston Consulting Group, Amazon Web Services, Genesis Analytics, United Nations Global Compact, Webber Wentzel and the City of Cape Town.

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Dagaaba, Frafra celebrate unity, culture, business at 29th Games

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Frafra ladies celebrating one of their goals

The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.

Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”

The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.

At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.

The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.

However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.

Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.

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The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.

In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.

MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.

By Gordon Wellu 

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By Gordon Wellu 

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MTN Ghana, FC, Rainforest Alliance move to restore Chipa Forest Reserve

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A Forestry Commission staff demonstrating how to plant and nurture a tree

MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.

The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.

It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.

Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.

The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.

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Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.

“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.

The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.

The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.

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