Accra is set to host Africa’s political and business leaders from February 4 to 6, 2026, as the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) returns with a strong focus on empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), women, and young people to fully participate in Africa’s single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Ghana, APD 2026 will take place at the Accra International Conference Centre and is being convened by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat.

Now in its fourth year, the forum has evolved into what organisers describe as Africa’s premier “Boardroom” — a space where policy meets action, and dialogue translates into deals, reforms, and concrete outcomes.

This year’s theme, “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate. Collaborate. Trade,” reflects a growing urgency to ensure that Africa’s largest economic actors are not left behind as the continent pushes for deeper integration.

SMEs account for more than 80 per cent of employment across Africa, yet fewer than 20 per cent are engaged in cross-border trade. Women run about 30 per cent of registered businesses but continue to face barriers to finance and markets, while young people — who make up over 60 per cent of Africa’s population — are innovating without the support needed to scale.

Organisers say APD 2026 is designed to move beyond rhetoric by bridging the gap between policy and practice. The three-day event will feature high-level executive roundtables bringing together heads of state, ministers, CEOs, and institutional leaders to address key bottlenecks to AfCFTA implementation, particularly in finance, infrastructure, and policy harmonisation.

A major highlight will be the Deal-Making and Investment Hub, where vetted SMEs and start-ups will pitch directly to investors through pitch arenas, private deal rooms, and a finance marketplace showcasing tailored products for women- and youth-led businesses.

In parallel, capacity-building masterclasses will offer hands-on training in areas such as AfCFTA rules of origin, cross-border payments through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), digital trade, and building investable business models.

Plenary sessions over the first two days will focus on success stories and practical strategies for empowering SMEs, women, and youth, culminating on Day Three with a Presidential and Business Leaders’ Dialogue.

A dedicated exhibition space, Project Afrique, will showcase enterprises already trading across borders, using live demonstrations and case studies to make success visible and replicable.

APD 2026 will also mark the official launch of the “Make Africa Borderless Now!” campaign — a continent-wide, people-driven movement calling for the full implementation of Africa’s single market commitments.

The campaign aims to mobilise millions of signatures across Africa and the diaspora, with a petition to be presented to African Heads of State and Government at the African Union Summit in 2027.

According to the Africa Prosperity Network, the campaign underscores the belief that Africa’s integration will only succeed if Africans can move, trade, and do business freely across borders, unlocking opportunities for job creation, innovation, and shared prosperity.

With thousands of delegates expected from across the continent and beyond, APD 2026 positions Accra once again as a hub for Pan-African economic thinking and action — and as a rallying point for turning the promise of the AfCFTA into real opportunities for the people who drive Africa’s economy.