Elevate Africa: Accra Declaration Sets Out Far-Reaching Agenda for Africa’s Future
By Dr. Adeniyi Ifetayo
The third edition of the Elevate Africa Convening, held in Accra, Ghana, has ended with an ambitious declaration of commitment by prominent African leaders, former and serving presidents, traditional rulers and other influential personalities to champion a new development agenda anchored on economic integration, reparatory justice, institutional reforms, cultural ownership, human capital development and shared prosperity.
The two-day gathering, which brought together an impressive assembly of political leaders, cultural ambassadors, investors, activists, entrepreneurs, academics, traditional rulers, development practitioners and stakeholders in the creative industries, provided a significant platform for interrogating Africa’s development challenges and exploring practical pathways towards a continent capable of determining its own future.
Held under the theme, “Africa: Defining Her Future,” the convening was co-founded by the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, and his wife, Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, who brought together participants from different parts of the world to deliberate on issues shaping Africa’s political, economic, cultural and social development.
Among the distinguished personalities at the gathering were former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, former Malawian President Joyce Banda and former Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, alongside ministers, business leaders and representatives of international institutions.
Beyond the distinguished attendance and colourful atmosphere, what stood out was the determination to move conversations about Africa’s future beyond familiar declarations of potential to concrete commitments, institutional action and measurable outcomes.
At the heart of this ambition was the Accra Declaration of Commitment, signed by participating leaders in their personal capacities at the Presidential Roundtable on October 28, 2026.
The declaration outlines 19 commitments covering three broad areas: confronting the historical consequences of the transatlantic slave trade and strengthening relationships with the African diaspora; accelerating economic integration, trade, investment and creative ownership; and rebuilding leadership, public trust and opportunities for future generations.
Importantly, the signatories did not present the declaration as a substitute for governmental policy. Rather, they invited African governments, the African Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, regional economic communities and other stakeholders to support and translate its commitments into practical policies and programmes.
One of the most compelling issues that dominated discussions was the need for Africa to redefine its understanding of wealth and development.
Delivering the opening address, the Olu of Warri challenged African leaders to invest more deliberately in human capital, institutional development and economic opportunities, arguing that the continent’s greatest asset was not its mineral deposits but the capabilities of its people.
“The true wealth of any nation lies not beneath its soil, but within its people,” he declared.
The monarch warned that Africa’s growing population would not automatically translate into prosperity without deliberate investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, innovation and other productive sectors.
With projections indicating that more than one in four people globally would be African by 2050, he argued that the continent must prepare its young population to compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.
His position reinforced a recurring concern throughout the convening: Africa cannot continue to measure its development solely by the abundance of natural resources while neglecting the human capabilities and institutions required to transform those resources into wealth.
The question of ownership also emerged as a major theme, particularly in discussions surrounding Africa’s creative economy and cultural heritage.
Speaking on behalf of Dr. Osahon Okunbo, founder of The Osahon Okunbo Foundation (TOOF), Nicole Asinugo, the foundation’s Director of Partnerships and Communication, highlighted the importance of building institutions and policies capable of preserving Africa’s cultural heritage and ensuring that the continent’s creative achievements translate into lasting economic benefits.
Okunbo argued that international recognition of African artists and creative products would amount to little if the structures required to protect intellectual property, preserve cultural knowledge and create opportunities for emerging talents were absent.
Drawing from his experience growing up surrounded by Benin artworks belonging to his late father, he emphasised that cultural heritage represented much more than artistic objects. It preserved the history, identity, beliefs and knowledge of generations.
His intervention raised important questions about who owns Africa’s cultural products, who controls their commercial value and what the next generation stands to inherit.
The issue received further attention from Olori Atuwatse III, who challenged African governments, investors and business leaders to move beyond celebrating the global popularity of African music, fashion and films to securing ownership of the economic value they generate.
She noted that Africa earns only about one dollar from every 100 dollars generated through global trade in creative goods, describing the situation as a troubling disconnect between the continent’s cultural influence and its economic returns.
“Our soft power should do more than make the world lean in. It should make the world buy in,” she said.
Referencing Afrobeats, Nollywood and African fashion, she observed that while African creativity increasingly commands international attention, much of the commercial value is captured elsewhere.
“The rhythm is ours. The colour is ours. Too often, the receipt is made out to someone else,” she said.
Her argument highlight the need for African-owned creative businesses, stronger intellectual property protection, access to financing and commercial platforms that enable creators to retain ownership and benefit from their work.
The discussions also placed considerable emphasis on the relationship between Africa and its diaspora, particularly the question of reparatory justice and the restoration of historical connections disrupted by slavery and colonialism.
The Accra Declaration called for greater recognition of the enduring consequences of the transatlantic slave trade, including the return of ancestral remains and cultural property, access to historical archives, formal apologies where appropriate and consideration of measures to restore communities affected by the trade.
It also advocated policies that would make it easier for Africans in the diaspora to return to the continent through improved citizenship, residency, land ownership and recognition of professional qualifications.
Significantly, the declaration distinguished reparations from remittances, philanthropy, investment and development assistance, maintaining that historical justice should not be confused with ordinary economic transactions.
The call for a stronger relationship between Africa and the diaspora also extended to trade and investment, with participants advocating renewed commercial connections between the African continent and the Caribbean.
On continental integration, the declaration urged faster implementation of the AfCFTA, greater freedom of movement for Africans, visa-free and visa-on-arrival arrangements, mutual recognition of qualifications and the eventual realisation of an African passport.
It also called for improved roads, ports, electricity and digital infrastructure to enable African businesses to expand across national borders without unnecessary restrictions.
Another significant issue was the need to ensure that Africa derives greater value from its natural resources.
Participants called for greater transparency in mining contracts, local processing of minerals and equitable benefits for communities whose lands and resources sustain extractive industries.
The declaration further addressed the growing influence of artificial intelligence, advocating African control over its data, investment in computing infrastructure and digital skills, and policies that protect citizens while allowing the continent to participate meaningfully in developing emerging technologies.
Leadership, governance and public trust also featured prominently.
The signatories called for more transparent and accountable governments, greater citizen participation and deliberate inclusion of young people, women and persons with disabilities in decision-making.
The declaration further advocated constructive collaboration between elected governments and traditional institutions, recognising the cultural and community roles of traditional rulers while upholding constitutional authority and democratic accountability.
The gathering also recorded practical initiatives aimed at translating its discussions into opportunities.
One notable development was the partnership between Elevate Africa and the Centre for Business Innovation, Entrepreneurialism and Management (CBEM) at National University to provide a year-long business mentorship programme for winners of the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize.
The programme, valued at approximately $25,000 in in-kind support, will equip the four winners with business development, marketing, branding, entrepreneurship and industry skills.
The initiative complements the $25,000 non-dilutive grand prize presented to overall winner Adekola Emmanuel and reflects the organisers’ determination to connect creative talent with the business knowledge and networks required to build sustainable enterprises.
The convening also witnessed the signing of the Accra Declaration by participating leaders and the presentation of the $25,000 prize to the Threads of Africa winner.
Ghana’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Abla Gomashie, also underscored the importance of changing the global perception of Africa from a continent defined largely by its raw materials to one recognised for its human capital, creativity and innovation.
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the Accra Declaration is its provision for accountability and follow-through.
Elevate Africa will serve as the secretariat responsible for keeping records of the commitments and individual pledges made by signatories. Within 12 months, it is expected to prepare a progress report in consultation with the signatories, which will be presented at the next convening.
This reporting mechanism is particularly important because Africa’s development conversations have often been characterised by impressive declarations and ambitious targets that struggle to translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
By requiring individual commitments, milestones and periodic reviews, the declaration seeks to introduce an element of accountability into the process.
Ultimately, the significance of the third Elevate Africa Convening lies not merely in the calibre of personalities assembled in Accra, but in the breadth of issues brought to the centre of Africa’s development conversation and the commitments made towards addressing them.
It reinforced the argument that Africa’s future cannot be secured through natural resources alone, nor through political rhetoric, international recognition or isolated economic interventions.
The continent must build institutions that work, protect the value of what its people create, develop its human capital, strengthen regional trade, reconnect with its diaspora and ensure that its natural wealth translates into shared prosperity.
The Accra Declaration therefore presents an important framework for collective advocacy and action. Its ultimate value, however, will be determined by the willingness of its signatories, African governments, institutions and the private sector to move from commitments to implementation.
For a continent whose future is increasingly tied to the aspirations of its youthful population and its position in a rapidly changing global economy, the message from Accra was unmistakable: Africa must take greater ownership of its history, resources, creativity and destiny.
The challenge now is to ensure that the declaration becomes more than another document signed at an international gathering, but a living commitment capable of shaping policies, strengthening institutions and improving the lives of millions of Africans.
