The 2026 Elevate Africa Convening will take place in Accra, Ghana, from October 28 to 29, at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel. Under the theme "Africa: Defining her future," the event will bring together African Heads of State, ministers, traditional rulers, policymakers, youth leaders, creatives, investors, civil society actors, and members of the diaspora. The convening is founded by His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the 21st Olu of Warri, and Her Royal Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of the Warri Kingdom.
The timing of the convening is significant, as Africa enters a new phase of economic integration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moving from agreement to implementation. A World Bank report released in August called for a shift from simple trade links toward regional production hubs. The AfCFTA Secretariat has also announced a $5.17 billion Digital Trade Corridor to strengthen digital infrastructure for intra-African commerce. Intra-African trade exceeded US$220 billion in 2024, yet much of the continent's value continues to leave its shores.
The Accra meeting will focus on building stronger regional value chains and retaining more value from Africa's resources, production, and markets. The convening will examine how Africa can draw on the capital, expertise, networks, and cultural influence of its global community, particularly the diaspora. Discussions will explore diaspora involvement in investment, talent development, creative industries, and narrative reclamation. The diaspora pillar will produce practical recommendations on diaspora investment vehicles, skills-transfer programs, and cultural partnerships.
Joy Godwin, Elevate Africa's Convening Project Lead, emphasized that Africa is moving into a new phase, and the conversation is shifting from what the continent could become to how to build the systems, institutions, and partnerships that will make that future possible. The convening brings together leaders, builders, and change-makers who can help turn that ambition into action. Accra provides a fitting backdrop, as Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat and has positioned itself as a key center for Africa's trade integration agenda.
The convening will focus on four interconnected areas: Trade Governance and Economic Integration; Governance, Policy, and Advocacy; Youth and the Creative Economy; and The Diaspora. The Trade Governance and Economic Integration pillar will examine AfCFTA implementation alongside intra-African investment, digital trade, trade finance, and resource governance. The Governance, Policy, and Advocacy pillar will consider the institutions and leadership needed to translate continental ambitions into practical outcomes.
The Youth and Creative Economy pillar will explore film, music, fashion, gaming, and digital content as strategic economic sectors, with attention to financing, intellectual property, infrastructure, trade, and access to international markets. The gathering will also feature Threads of Africa, an Elevate Africa initiative that brings together African textile heritage, fashion, film, and storytelling to highlight their cultural and economic value. For diaspora creatives, it offers a platform to connect with markets, investors, and collaborators on the continent.
Organizers expect between 600 and 900 delegates to participate in person and virtually. The convening is expected to produce the Accra Declaration, alongside strategic partnerships, investment commitments, and cross-sector collaborations. The 2026 Elevate Africa Convening aims to position Accra as a meeting point for a broader continental discussion on how Africa can move from integration as an aspiration to integration as an economic reality.
Key points
- The 2026 Elevate Africa Convening will focus on turning AfCFTA ambitions into practical economic outcomes.
- The diaspora is expected to play a central role in shaping the agenda, with a focus on investment, talent development, and creative industries.
- The convening aims to produce practical recommendations on diaspora investment vehicles, skills-transfer programs, and cultural partnerships.
