The Africa We Want Series with Baptista. Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa.

Baptista is the author of the book: Prepare for the Future of Work and the CEO of FoReal HR Services in Ghana. As a Hybrid professional, building a team of efficient & effective workforce is her business. Affecting lives is her calling! She is a Public and Keynote Conference Speaker, a Professional Connector and a Researcher. You can reach her via e-mail on bap.tista@outlook.com Follow her social media pages and the hashtag #theFutureofWorkCapsules #FoWC #forealhrservices and ethics, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of the African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children. An Africa which is strong, united, resilient and influential with global players and partners is the ideal Africa we want.

By Baptista S. H. Gebu (Mrs.)

How do we drive investment to the transformed Africa with our master plan and blueprint for the continent?

Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa begins with a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, where an integrated continent is politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance. An Africa where good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law is observed and protected.

An Africa which is peaceful and secure with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values

The blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa must consider and work towards an Africa which has an integrated high speed train network with an African commodities strategy which has established a functioning African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) operating an African passport where free movement of people is enabled. The Africa we want must silence the guns, be able to implement the grand INGA Dam project and establish a single African air-transport market, an annual African Economic Forum, an African financial institution, the Pan – African e-network, the Africa outer space strategy, an African virtual and E-University be able to put in place a cyber-security, great African museum as well as an encyclopedia about the continent.

The Africa we want is possible and attainable we need a change mindset to accept this reality as we pull in investment. I want to encourage you to see the glass as half full and not half empty as an expression of optimism. I envision the Africa we want is possible when we know about it, work towards it and build it together! It’s the power of choice.

Let’s emancipate ourselves from mental slavery and accept the grass is greener here. We need that change mindset first.

The outside media portals Africa as poverty stricken and needy; which is far from the ideal truth, a situation which will not pull in the right investment. Africa must tell the African story the Africa way. The ideal Africa we want must not wait for other continents to tell its perceived story misconstrue from the idea reality. Africa is not a country but a continent and civilization began in Africa. The current population of Africa is 1,416,097,444 as of November 9, 2022, based on the latest United Nations estimates. The Africa we want must invest into its own research. Most often than not, one is tempted to quote other sources due to non-availability and in some cases lack of relevant data. The narrative is changing and its welcome news. Kofi Annan is quoted to have said; “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family”. Let’s then know and understand the Africa we want in the Agenda 2063 blueprint.

The world’s populations reached 8 billion on November 15, 2012 according to the latest United Nations estimates and revisions from the UN, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, released in 2022. It is projected to reach 9 billion in 2037, and 10 billion people in the year 2058. It is said to have doubled in 40 years from 1959 when we were 3 billion people to 1999 when we were 6 billion. We are currently (2022) growing at a rate of around 0.84 % per year, adding 67 million people per year to the total according to 2022 estimates from the United Nations.

According to The Organization of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; the Africa we want must encompass these. “AGENDA 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realization by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritize Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organization of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; and instead to prioritize inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.

As an affirmation of their commitment to support Africa’s new path for attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development, African heads of state and government signed the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the OAU /AU in May 2013.

The declaration marked the re-dedication of Africa towards the attainment of the Pan African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena and Agenda 2063 is the concrete manifestation of how the continent intends to achieve this vision within a 50 year period from 2013 to 2063 thinking of the Africa of the future.

The need to envision a long-term 50 year development trajectory for Africa is important as Africa needs to revise and adapt its development agenda due to ongoing structural transformations; increased peace and reduction in the number of conflicts; renewed economic growth and social progress; the need for people centered development, gender equality and youth empowerment; changing global contexts such as increased globalization and the ICT revolution; the increased unity of Africa which makes it a global power to be reckoned with and capable of rallying support around its own common agenda; and emerging development and investment opportunities in areas such as agri-business, infrastructure development, health and education as well as the value addition in African commodities.

Agenda 2063 encapsulates not only Africa’s aspirations for the future but also identifies key flagship programmes which can boost Africa’s economic growth and development and lead to the rapid transformation of the continent.

Agenda 2063 also identifies key activities to be undertaken in its 10 year implementation plans which will ensure that Agenda 2063 delivers both quantitative and qualitative transformational outcomes for the African people.

Africa’s Seven (7) Aspirations for the Future.

Agenda 2063 seeks to deliver on a set of seven aspirations each with its own set of goals which if achieved will move Africa closer to achieving its vision for the year 2063. These 7 aspirations reflect our desire for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women and youth are realized, and with freedom from fear, disease and want.

Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Aspiration 2: An integrated continent politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance.

Aspiration 3: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law.

Aspiration 4: A peaceful and secure Africa.

Aspiration 5: An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics.

Aspiration 6: An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.

Aspiration 7: Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner.

The Fifteen (15) Flagship Projects of Agenda 2063

The flagship projects of Agenda 2063 refers to key programmes and initiatives which have been identified as key to accelerating Africa’s economic growth and development as well as promoting our common identity by celebrating our history and our vibrant culture. The flagship projects encompass infrastructure, education, science, technology, arts and culture as well as initiatives to secure peace on the continent. It includes;

1.Integrated High Speed Train Network.

2.Formation of an African Commodities strategy.

3.Establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

4.The African Passport and Free Movement of People.

5.Silence the Guns by year 2020.

6.Implementation of the grand INGA Dam project

7.Establishment of a single African Air-Transport Market (SAATM)

8.Establishment of an annual African Economic Forum

9.Establishment of the African Financial Institutions

10.The Pan – African E-Network

11.Africa outer space strategy

12.An African virtual and E-University

13.Cyber security

14.Great African Museum

15.Encyclopedia Africana

The Establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to information available from the AfCFTA Secretariat, AfCFTA is the largest free trade area in the world measured by the number of countries participation with a combined gross domestic product of $3.4 Trillion as it connects 1.3 billion people now 1.4 billion across the 56 countries. As at December 2022 54 out of the 55 member states of the AU have signed the AfCFTA agreement. 44 African countries have deposited their instrument of ratification with the African Union commission. The interesting bit of the discuss is that, AfCFTA has the potential to lift 30 million people from extreme poverty as its expected to boost Africa’s income by some $450 billion by the year 2035 representing a 7% gain.

The creation of this single market for goods and services will allow African countries to trade amongst themselves duty-free and quota-free. The agreement to establish this AfCFTA was signed far back in March 2018 in Rwanda on the 21st day in Kigali however trading officially commenced on January 1, 2021 two years down the line. And commercially meaningful trading officially also started in October, 2022 exactly on the 7the day of the month.

The creation of this one single market for goods and services will facilitate the movement of people in a bid to deepen the economic integration of the African continent. As an objective, this ideal prosperous Africa must promote its development to be people-driven this it can achieve by creating a free market for goods and service where the possibility of successive rounds and negotiations are possible. When AfCFTA is people driven, this will contribute to the movement of capital and natural persons which will facilitate investments building in party states. A people driven Africa must promote as an objective an industrial development achieved through diversification and regional value chain development, agricultural development and food security amongst others.

When its people drive, it will create and increase employment for the people of each African country, enable the citizens to take advantage of economies of scale and become more competitive. It will also support the countries to enjoy a better terms of trade whiles promoting favourable market access to the largest one single market.

To become a member, African countries are expected to sign the agreement and deposit their instruments of ratification with the African Union Commission. Ghana is currently a state party to AfCFTA since May 2018.

To export under this trade arrangement, there are some conditions to be met. One, one must comply with the AfCFTA rules of origin and goods must be in the liberalized tariff schedule of the destination country, amongst other additional procedures to be looked at in subsequent editions.

“It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world”. The Africa we want is possible. Let’s face neither east nor west but face forward. “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me – Dr. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah”

The Vocational Training Teams committee on behalf of Rotary International District 9102 to include Ghana, Togo, Benin and Niger recently launched two major projects – the Knowledge Bank and Vocational Service Projects ahead of its January vocational service month celebration.

On behalf of the District Governor Victor Yaw Asante, the District Vocational Training Teams Chair together with its fellow Country Chairs and committee members for this Rotary year; encouraged partners in service to come deposit their competencies into the created virtual knowledge bank project and join in to celebrate the forgotten avenues of Service.

This project was launched virtually by the District Governor. Ahead of the launch, major stakeholder engagements were carried out with several blocks to include the Council of President, Rotaractors, Franco- phone and Anglophone blocks. During January - the vocational service month, the committee took turns to support the district imagine rotary through vocational service.

The Chair, further called on all to imagine fearlessly a sustainable future using business and professional life as the foundation and vocational service a major force in promoting same. To Rotary International, the object of Vocational Service she said is to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society.

This January - the committee encouraged all Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors to; pride themselves of being able to use their professional stature and knowledge to make things happen in the district