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As Ghana commemorates 69 years of independence, the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) is set to host a high-level webinar that will bring together influential African leaders, thinkers, and cultural icons to reflect on the continent’s progress toward unity and economic integration.
The webinar, themed “Ghana @ 69: From Africa’s Independence to Integration,” will take place on March 6, 2026, marking the historic anniversary of Ghana’s liberation in 1957 when Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s founding leader, declared the nation free from colonial rule. In his independence speech, Nkrumah famously warned that Ghana’s freedom would be incomplete unless it was tied to the total liberation and unity of Africa—a vision that continues to guide pan-African discourse decades later.
Nearly seven decades after independence, the continent is once again confronting fundamental questions about its future. With 2028 approaching—the target year set under the Abuja Treaty for advancing critical stages of Africa’s economic integration—the Africa Prosperity Network is convening stakeholders to examine what tangible progress Africa must deliver in the coming years.
The discussion will feature an influential lineup of political leaders, policymakers, media figures, and cultural icons committed to the pan-African project.
Among the speakers is Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle and former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, widely recognized for her leadership in shaping Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term development strategy. She currently serves as Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Africa Prosperity Network.
The session will also feature Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, whose advocacy for African economic integration has positioned the organization as a leading platform for continental policy dialogue.
Adding historical and ideological depth to the discussion is Samia Nkrumah, diplomat and politician, and daughter of Ghana’s first president. A committed pan-Africanist, she continues to champion the ideals of continental unity championed by her father.
Other prominent voices include Ras Mubarak, Ghanaian politician and award-winning journalist known for his outspoken commentary on Africa’s governance and integration challenges, and Ayanda Ngwane, widely recognized as the “Yaya of Africa.” Ngwane is a prominent pan-African media executive, founder of Ayanda Media Network, Managing Director of BRICS TV West and Central Africa Bureau, and an Ambassador for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 initiative.
The event will also highlight the role of culture in shaping a borderless Africa. Ghanaian music stars Sarkodie and Stonebwoy will join the conversation, representing the creative industry’s growing influence in connecting audiences across Africa and beyond. Their participation underscores the idea that African integration is not solely a political process but also a cultural and social movement.
At the heart of the discussion is the continent’s long-standing integration agenda outlined in the Abuja Treaty, which envisioned a progressive roadmap toward a customs union, a common market, and eventually a single currency for Africa, alongside the free movement of people and goods across the continent.
Initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were designed to serve as a major catalyst for achieving these goals. However, persistent trade barriers, slow ratification of the Free Movement Protocol, and structural economic challenges continue to hinder intra-African commerce.
The upcoming webinar aims not only to reflect on these obstacles but also to identify actionable pathways forward. Organizers say the discussion will culminate in the development of a 2028 Delivery Scorecard, outlining practical priorities and measurable commitments needed to accelerate Africa’s economic integration over the next two years.
Beyond the policy conversation, the Africa Prosperity Network is encouraging African citizens to actively participate in the push for a more integrated continent through the Make Africa Borderless Now! campaign. The pan-African initiative advocates for the free movement of people, goods, and capital across Africa while holding governments and institutions accountable to their integration commitments.
The movement invites individuals, businesses, and civil society actors to lend their voices to the call for a truly borderless Africa by supporting its ongoing petition and advocacy initiatives.
As Ghana marks another milestone in its independence journey, the webinar seeks to revive the enduring vision of African unity articulated by Kwame Nkrumah nearly seven decades ago.
With the continent approaching a critical integration deadline, organizers say the moment demands not only reflection but decisive action.
As Nkrumah once warned, the choice facing Africa remains clear: unite and prosper together, or risk the consequences of fragmentation.
