Official Press Launch of The 6th Ghana CEO Summit

Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the media. I will like to thank you all for joining the Chief Executives Network Ghana (CEO Network Ghana) for the official press launch of the 6th Ghana CEO Summit.

The GHANA CEO SUMMIT is the foremost business conference for decision makers, CEOs, Heads of State, entrepreneurs, business leaders, board members, investors, director generals, governors, ambassadors, executive chairs, advisors, managing directors, country directors, ministers, consultants and Policy Makers. The Summit is committed to unlocking Ghana and West Africa’s economic potential by offering concrete, innovative and actionable solutions, championing private-sector led growth, leading discussions around innovative public policies and best growth-oriented business practices to help the country move forward, build resilient companies and outstanding CEOs.

This year’s edition of the CEO Summit is the sixth edition of the Summit since the launch of this initiative in 2016, and is under the theme;

Digital leadership for the digital economy: leading digital business & government transformation. A private-public sector CEO dialogue & learning.

The Summit will come off on Monday 30th May, 2022 at the Kempinski Gold Coast hotel in Accra from 9 am to 5 pm.

The theme for this year’s summit was carefully chosen to reflect the need for digital leadership for businesses in furtherance of government’s agenda of creating a digital economy. The subject of digital leadership for a digital economy is an important one and the summit will provide a platform for deliberation on the subject, with an aim of equipping business leaders with the skill set and mindset needed to become digital leaders. In this era of digital transformation, business leaders must as a matter of necessity champion digital solutions to the challenges faced in their operations and ultimately, in the economy. The key to successful businesses and the transformation of the economy lies in digital leadership.

I am pleased to announce that the Special Guest of Honour for the Summit this year is the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. We will also be joined by Dr. Ernest Addision, Governor of the Bank of Ghana and several cabinet ministers. The Minister for Public Enterprises, Mr. Joseph Cudjoe will deliver a keynote address at the Summit. To deliver another keynote address is Mr. Moses Baiden Jnr., CEO of the Margins Group.

 

Remaining committed to creating an enabling environment for the conduct of business in Ghana, our call to action at the Summit this year is for the passage of an Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red tape Act. The passage of an Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red tape Act is the way to eliminate rigid conformity to procedures and requirements in government service which only creates redundancy and bureaucracy. Such legislation will require government agencies to promote transparency in their services to the public by improving efficiency and reducing bureaucratic practices.

The summit will as usual have plenary sessions on numerous areas related to the theme. Notable CEO’s and industry giants, both local and international will also share their expert insights on topics related to the theme for the benefit of participants.

Mr. Felix Addo, President of the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GARIA) and Board Chairman of Guinness Ghana Breweries will speak on the new Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Act, 2020 (Act 1015).

Mr. Jayanth Murthy, the Joint Managing Director of South Asia & Africa at Kaizen Institute will speak on Achieving Operational Excellence and transforming one’s business for profits and sustainability by driving operational excellence.

To lead a CEO Masterclass and share expert insight on the topic ‘Digital leadership & Organisation’s CEO performance: Changing paradigms, attitudes, behavioural wastage, for changing times’ is Mr. Neville Gaunt, CEO of MindFit Limited, UK.

Mr. Pierre Frank Laporte, Country Director of the World Bank will also lead a CEO Masterclass on the topic, ‘Digital Leadership: Resetting Ghana’s economy and ease of doing business for business and economic development impact’.

On the plenary sessions, the digital leadership for a digital economy session will consider how digital leadership will transform the economy and the various skillsets CEO’s need to develop to be digital leaders.

The CEO business case session will have accomplished CEO’s will share with participants the corporate strategies they employed to expand their businesses to Continental and global levels; and the hurdles they had to overcome. This panel will also discuss the glorious opportunities that the African continent still holds for businesses and how to take advantage of these opportunities.

The Ministerial and public sector CEO’s dialogue session will provide a platform for dialogue between public sector heads and the business community on ways to deepen their strategic ties.

Another panel discussion is structured around resetting Ghana’s economy and the ease of doing business. This carefully selected panel will access the current regulatory framework for businesses in Ghana and make proposals on how best the country can provide a more enabling environment for businesses to operate.

A highlight of the panel discussions will be the panel on women, leadership and the post-pandemic world. This panel will seek to discuss matters bordering on how female business leaders can strategically position and equip themselves for leadership after the pandemic. Issues to be considered include building an ecosystem for women in fourth industrial revolution jobs, promoting lifelong learning in STEM and computing and incentivizing risk-taking and competitive pay.

I am happy to announce that the Women CEO Leadership Network will be launched as part of this panel discussion.

The corporate governance plenary session will explore ways of improving the digital transformation deficit in the boardroom in order to remain competitive.

Finally, the Ghana healthcare plenary session will discuss transforming healthcare with software and Artificial Intelligence as a medical device and how businesses can use innovative technologies to tackle climate change and sustainable development.

We indeed look forward to another successful and impactful session at the 6th Ghana CEO Summit, and we are grateful to all our partners for their support.

I thank you for your attention.

 

ERNEST DE-GRAFT EGYIR.

FOUNDING CEO, GHANA CEO SUMMIT & NETWORK.