Women leaders from academia, business, finance, governance, and civil society have underscored the critical role of women in advancing Africa’s economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) during a high-level panel discussion at the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD).
The discussion, held under the theme “From Boardrooms to Borders: Women Driving the AfCFTA Agenda,” at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Wednesday 4th February 2026, brought together distinguished women leaders who shared insights on how women are shaping trade policy, influencing corporate strategy, and driving inclusive growth across the continent.
The panel featured Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana; Patricia Poku Diaby, Executive Chair of Plot Enterprises and Advisory Council Member of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN); Pearl Nkrumah, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana; Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration at the Office of the President of Ghana; and Professor Marie-Line Sephocle, Founder of the Women Ambassadors Foundation and the Women Ambassadors Conference.
*Stronger collaboration*
Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, stressed that collaboration and partnerships are essential to preparing young people and women to take advantage of the opportunities offered under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Prof. Amfo said institutions cannot achieve meaningful development outcomes in isolation. She noted that the University of Ghana has placed engagement and partnerships at the heart of its strategic priorities.
“Our fourth strategic priority is engagement and partnerships because we recognize that whatever we want to achieve, we cannot do it on our own,” she stated.
Prof. Amfo explained that while universities are primarily responsible for training and research, their work becomes more impactful when carried out in partnership with industry and other institutions.
She cited the University of Ghana’s recently launched innovation enclave and maker space as an example of successful collaboration, made possible through partnerships with both local and international organisations.
*From cocoa price takers to value negotiators*
Patricia Poku Diaby, Executive Chair of Plot Enterprises and a member of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) Advisory Council, called for stronger African cooperation and increased value addition in the cocoa sector. She stressed that the continent must move from being a price taker to becoming a value negotiator in the global cocoa market.
Madam Poku Diaby noted that West Africa remains the powerhouse of global cocoa production, with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire alone accounting for over 60 percent of the world’s supply. When combined with other producers such as Nigeria and Cameroon, she said the region provides nearly 80 percent of cocoa that feeds the global chocolate industry.
Despite this dominance, she lamented that African producers continue to exert little influence over pricing and market decisions.
“We feed the industry, but in spite of this dominance, we don’t influence anything—neither pricing nor even the market,” she said.
Madam Poku Diaby highlighted the economic and social importance of cocoa to Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, describing it as the backbone of both economies.
In Ghana, cocoa remains the second-largest foreign exchange earner and supports the livelihoods of about two million smallholder farmers. Globally, she added, more than 44 million families depend on cocoa-related income.