The top echelons of corporate Ghana, other corporate executives and policy makers drew from the knowledge well of international and local experts on selected subjects relevant to the needs of the private sector as the 3rd Ghana CEO Summit kicked off in Accra.

Officially opened by the President of Ghana, and Guest of Honour, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Summit, on the theme: ‘Leadership, Innovation and Investment for Business & Economic Transformation’ sat over 500 top CEOs, business leaders, entrepreneurs as well as government representatives.

Another unique feature of this year’s CEO Summit was the CEO Masterclass facilitated by the two international speakers, Roger Harrop - the CEO expert - award winning international motivational business growth speaker from USA, and Neville Gaunt - a renowned keynote speaker, author and CEO, Mind Fit limited, UK, on the topics: WIN: How to Succeed in the New Game of Business; and Increased Productivity through Behavioural Waste Management respectively.

Addressing the plenary session on the flagship Presidential Panel at the Summit, President Akufo-Addo touched on issues of the youth, jobs and the financial sector.

The President acknowledged youth unemployment as an issue to be confronted head-on recognising that the solution lies in a skilled workforce who will take advantage of the digital revolution.

“We have to change the structure of our economy and transform the living standards of our people.”

Drawing positive parallels between a viable financial sector and rapid development of the country, the President observed “we cannot afford instability and recklessness in the banking sector” in apparent reference to the happenings in the banking sector adding “any act of instability will affect the economy”.

CEO of the Chief Executives Network Ghana Limited, Mr Ernest De-Graft Egyir, organizers of the Ghana CEO Summit, emphasized leadership and its impact on the growth of the private sector, stating, “Ghana cannot develop beyond the level of its leadership.”

“As our leadership effectiveness improves, our impact is multiplied in business, governance, in our police service, in schools, families, churches etc”, he said.

Egyir called for “enduring policies” that can match those of international trade markets as well as the enabling environment to drive the growth of the private sector and ensure a consistent improvement in Ghana’s position regarding the decline in the Corruption index and competitiveness rankings, etc.

“No matter how much innovation the business sector churns out, if there is no confidence in business processing and the perception of corruption, investment is stunted” he noted.

He revealed how hitches in services in the public-sector domain have sent investors packing out of the country cautioning that more work is required to move Ghana from being an appealing market to actually living it.

Other prominent speakers included representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Business Development; BoG Deputy Governor; Natalia Koliadina; Representatives from the GIPC; Charles Larbi-Odam; Edward Effah; Tutu Agyare and Moses Baiden, amongst others.

Speakers and panellists on the various panels engaged participants in dynamic and thought provoking discussions on the various topics covering Leadership; Doing Business and Investment; Corporate Governance; Economy; Technology and Innovation.

The CEOs expressed confidence in government’s economic policies which have held the fluctuations in the economy in check in recent times as they presented the President with a plaque, signed by the business leaders.

Participating corporate executives and entrepreneurs also leveraged on the platform to build new networks and strike long term partnerships while companies exhibited their products and services to the many audiences at the summit.

The annual Ghana CEO Summit is the biggest and most prestigious gathering of Corporate Ghana’s leadership, under one roof, to draw on the knowledge of renowned world class experts on key facets of corporate management and leadership.

It is organized by the Chief Executives Network Ghana Limited in partnership with Deloitte Ghana and GIPC.