Global Leaders Map strategies for Africa’s Post COVID-19 Recovery at the 4th ALM Virtual Africa Summit 2020
A panel discussion on the theme also presented an opportunity for experts to share their views of Post COVID-19 recovery pathways for the
continent
PORTSMOUTH, United Kingdom, June 29, 2020/ -- According to a report by the AU, Africa will lose about 20 million
jobs in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A study conducted by the
global auditing firm McKinsey “Tackling COVID-19 in Africa,”
stated that Africa's economies could experience a loss of between $90
billion and $200 billion in 2020. The scale of disruption caused by
COVID-19, which has been further exacerbated by poor health
infrastructure in the continent, has been of grave concern to business,
political and diplomatic leaders in the continent and beyond.
In response to the growing concern, and as part of its mandate of
evolving solutions to the continent's challenges, African Leadership
Magazine (https://www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk/) UK organized the 4th annual African Summit with the theme COVID-19: Pathways to Africa's Economic Recovery and Future Growth.
The event which held virtually on the 25th June 2020, assembled global
leaders, including Her Excellency Baroness Patricia Scotland,
Commonwealth Secretary-General; His Excellency Rt. Hon. Ambrose Dlamini, Prime Minister of Eswatini, Her Excellency Jewel Howard-Taylor, Vice
President of Liberia, Lord Dollar Popat, Member UK House of Lords and UK Prime Minister's Envoy to Rwanda and Uganda, among others.
Lending her voice to the discussion, SG Scotland, in her opening remark, stated that, "as the nations of the Commonwealth and the world more
widely work to rebuild economic and social fabric and infrastructure,
the need for inclusiveness and resilience will be of utmost concern.
Inclusiveness and resilience have long been Commonwealth watchwords.
They are also central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."
Continuing, she maintained that, "I believe they are vital
considerations as we set out to map Pathways to Africa's Economic
Recovery and Growth, and as we move forward from the massive disruption
and dislocation caused by COVID-19."
On his part, Prime Minister Dlamini averred that "In a nutshell,
Eswatini's pathway to post COVID-19 recovery is focused on boosting the
private sector and streamlining the fiscal adjustment plan.” He also
maintained that, “Early projections are estimating growth to be around
1.5 per cent with the implementation of the program.”
“In a way, this pandemic provides us with the opportunity to institute
reforms in Government with the focus firmly on achieving the milestones
articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.
Similarly, Vice President Taylor, maintained that "Countries and
governments are under obligations to ensure that women and girls survive the surge of violence against them because everyone is in a survival
mode since predators are preying on the vulnerability of women and
girls."
"Countries across Africa are in lockdown mode, and this is having
devastating effects on the continent's population - a majority of whom
have to live below the poverty line and have to hustle to win bread for
themselves. If these people are asked to stay home, you can imagine what that means for them. The lockdown makes access to essential social
services nonexistent.
VP Howard-Taylor said despite the glomming global picture; policy makers must showcase Africa as the new frontier," she said.
Lord Dolar Popat, on his part, called on African leaders to see COVID-19 crisis as the best opportunity to change its mindset and position the
continent as the next labour market of the future.
In his words, "Africa must redesign itself".
The publisher and founder of the African Leadership magazine and host of the Africa Summit 2020, Dr Ken Giami, in his earlier welcome address
called on all stakeholders in the Africa project, including non-African
lovers of the continent, to join hands and build partnerships for
Africa’s recovery and future growth, as the continent navigates the
challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Giami noted that ‘the World as we knew it may have changed forever.
Therefore, as we adjust to the unfolding new normal, I call on all
stakeholders of the Africa project to do the hard work and the smart
work required, so we can build a resilient and sustainable pathway to
Africa’s future’.
A panel discussion on the theme also presented an opportunity for
experts to share their views of Post COVID-19 recovery pathways for the
continent. Panelists were drawn from politics, diplomacy, business and
academia. The discussants include Sen. Manqoba Khumalo, Minister of
Commerce & Trade, Kingdom of Eswatini; Hon. Hamat Bah, Minister of
Culture & Tourism, The Gambia; Dr Christian Lindfeld, Managing
Partner, Africa Advisors GmbH; Dr Victor Oladdokun, Former Director of
Communications, African Development Bank; Senyo Hosi, Chairman Ghana
Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Saul Frazer, CEO Global Properties,
Gambia; and Professor Samuel Edoumiekumo, among others.
Highlights of the event included the unveiling of the top 100 COVID-19
Champions; the launch of the African Business Council; and the
presentation of an award to selected leaders for their exemplary
leadership.
The annual Africa Summit traditionally holds in London UK, but, held
virtually this year due to the COVID-19 disruption. The event It is part of African Leadership magazine's response to the debate on resetting
Africa's development priorities post-COVID-19.
About African Leadership Magazine:
The African Leadership magazine (https://www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.co.uk/) is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a company registered
in the United Kingdom. The magazine focuses on bringing the best of
Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from an African
perspective; while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges being faced by the continent today.
Since its maiden edition, African Leadership Magazine has grown to
become a leading Pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication
read by over 1, 000, 000 targeted international investors, business
executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across
Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US. It is distributed
at major international and African Leadership events around the world.
The magazine has over 900,000 subscribers/Followers on Facebook and a
virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and
unbiased African voice born out of a desire to ameliorate a lot of
Africans by focusing on individuals and corporates that are known for
their legacy-based approach to leadership.
Link: African Leadership Magazine
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