Accra to Host African Business Roundtable

Ghana is to host the annual general meeting of the African Business Roundtable (ABR) on November 7 to map out a strategy for regional economic growth.

The high profile three-day meeting will bring together three African Heads of State, top business executives and experts to evolve plans to step up Africa's economic development through the private sector.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Executive President of ABR, announced this at a meeting with Vice President Aliu Mahama at the Castle, Osu, on Wednesday.

He said Presidents Fredrick Chiluba of Zambia, Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo and Joachim Chissano of Mozambique are expected at the meeting.

OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy, Omar Kabbag, President of the African Development Bank as well as decision makers and experts from the United States will also attend.

Alhaji Tukur said bilateral and multilateral agreements to facilitate intra-African trade and business outside the continent would be signed at the meeting.

He said the objective of the ABR, founded 10 years ago under the auspices of ADB with the support of former US President George Bush is to "serve as an open window through which the private sector in Africa can do business with themselves and the outside world."

Alhaji Tukur said the efforts at achieving African unity and integration, initiated by Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his compatriots, should be rekindled with a focus on breaking barriers that impede economic integration.